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A TREATISE ON THE 
CRITERION OF CHRIST- 
IAN FAITH AND LIFE 



By WILLIAM C. HEYER 
Pastor of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church. Trevorton, Pa. 



PHILADELPHIA 

GENERAL COUNCIL PUBLICATION HOUSE 

1907 






QUI 
FEB 13 Wll 



*'Obey my voice and I will be your God, and ye shall be my 
people." — ^Jeremiah 7 123. 

"O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then 
had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the 
waves of the sea." — Isaiah 48:18. 

"Whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of 
God been perfected." — i John 2:5. 



CONTENTS 



Preface 7 

Introduction 9 

I. The Source of the Authority : God. 

Synopsis of Chapter ii 

1. The Authority of God 1 1 

2. The Inspired Writers I5 

3. The Inspired Writings 22 

II. The Ground of the Authority: The Contents. 

Preliminary Remarks 29 

1. Doctrinal 32 

2. Historical 38 

3. Prophetical 47 

III. The Essence of the Authority : Truth 23 

Preliminary Remarks 53 

1. In Substance 56 

2. In Form 64 

3. In Method 67 

IV. The Goal of the Authority: Supremacy. 

Preliminary Remarks ^^ 

1. Positive 79 

2. Sovereign 82 

3. Permanent 91 

V. The Results of the Authority : Growth of Kingdom. 

Synopsis of Chapter 99 

1. In a General Way 99 

2. In a Specific Sense 107 

3. In Particular Phases no 

The Conclusion 119 

Index of Scripture Verses 121 



^ I ''HE necessity of arriving at definite conclusions in 
-*- regard to the question of authority in matters 
of faith and life is of paramount importance. Christian 
people need a permanent authoritative standard to 
govern their spiritual affairs. Because Christian faith 
unquestionably rests, builds, and abides on authority. 
But, on whose authority can saving faith rely with true 
assurance? Obviously, on the authority of him 
who gave to the world the Word of truth. 

God's Word is authoritative in a twofold sense : first, 
because of the truthful information which God gives 
to the world ; secondly, because of the unequivocal com- 
pliance with his will which God requires of men. The 
Christian Church from the beginning held and prac- 
ticed that the Word of God is the authority of authori- 
ties for the faith and life of the Church. Among con- 
fessions of faith, the Formula of Concord first gave 
clear and definite expression to this principle. For it 
says, that the Prophetic and Apostolic Writings of the 
Old and New Testaments are the only rule according to 
which all teachers and doctrines are to be judged and 
esteemed. But in previous creeds, the same principle 
is implied, even though it was not expressed in so many 
words. In fine, the Church to this day teaches and 
believes that the Word of God is the authority in re- 
gard to the matters of which it speaks. 



8 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

In publishing the little book in hand, I beg in- 
dulgence with what shortcomings may be discovered 
in the presentation of the subject. For, the great theme 
of divine authority of Holy Scripture has therein been 
but touched upon. That the Lord and Head of the 
Church may deign to use this humble work in whatever 
way it pleases him, is the prayer of its author. 

W. C. Heyer. 

Trevorton, January, k^o'j. 



The Authority of the Word of God 

Stttrniurtuitt 



HOLY Scripture is the recorded Word of God. 
Written by divinely inspired persons, the Scrip- 
ture is God's inspired Word. In contents, the Word of 
God is incomparably superior to any and all merely hu- 
man literature: his Word is the authori!:ative informa- 
tion concerning spiritual things. As regards its essence, 
the Word of God is truth : it is the embodiment of di- 
vine truth in human language. Being perfect truth, 
it possesses corresponding authority: sovereign supre- 
macy in revealed truth is the prerogative of Holy Scrip- 
ture. God in the course of time has ever proved his 
Word faithful and effective, as is observable in its re- 
sults. God's Word forever expresses and performs his 
will and pleasure. 



Synopsis of CMpter. 

^ I ""HE source of the authority of Holy Scripture is 
-^ God. He speaks to the world, because he is the 
Lord and God of all that live. This was clearly stated 
already when God made his covenant with Abraham, 
the father of believers, the Lord saying to him : "I am 
the Almighty God, walk before me and be upright."^ 
In speaking to the world, God did so almost invariably 
through selected men. But whenever he spoke through 
his servants, what they said is his Word as truly and 
perfectly as though spoken by himself immediately 
without human instrumentality. "My covenant will I 
not break," says God, "nor alter the thing that is gone 
out of my lips;"^ for God's Word though spoken by 
men, is nevertheless gone out of his lips. From the 
Triune God, then, earth has received the Word of 
Scripture by the divine inspiration of prophets and 
apostles. And their writings are the inspired Word of 
God, and are called Holy Scripture, or the Scriptures. 

I . — The Authority of God. 

God thrones in sovereign majesty far above the 
changes of time within the holy habitations of eternity. 
From the exalted throne of glory, he reigns over all the 
world because of his relation to the world as Creator, 
Redeemer, and Comforter. He is the Author and Ruler 



12 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

of all authorities in heaven and earth ; consequently all 
true and rightful authority is ultimately derived from 
him who can say to heaven and earth : "I am the Lord 
thy God.'" Scripture testifies that "God is the blessed 
and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of 
lords."* He it is that set Christ at his right hand "far 
above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, 
and every name that is named, not only in this world, 
but also in that which is to come.'"^ Being the Son of 
God, Christ forever enjoyed with the Father the pre- 
eminence over all things. For he "is the image of the 
invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him 
were all things created, in the heavens and upon the 
earth, things visible and things invisible, whether 
thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all 
things have been created through him and unto him; 
and he is before all things, and in him all things con- 
sist. And he is the head of the body, the church."* He 
therefore could indeed promise his disciples, "I will 
pray the Father and he shall give you another Com- 
forter, that he may abide with you forever, even the 
Spirit of truth."^ It is plain, then, that God, the Triune 
God, is the ultimate, efficient cause of all authority. 

God exercises his authority by his will. For Holy 
Scripture witnesses : "He doeth according to his will 
in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the 
earth : and none can stay his hand, or say to him, What 
doest thou?"' Again it says, "Worthy art thou, our 
Lord and our God, to receive the glory and the honor 
and the power : for thou didst create all things, and be- 
cause of thy will they were, and were created."'' Jesus 
in his state of humiliation also declared : "My meat is 



THE SOURCE OF THE AUTHORITY. 1 3 

to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his 
work."" 

God expresses his will in his Word. That is what 
Christ refers to when he says : "If any man will do his 
will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of 
God, or whether I speak of myself."" God himself af- 
firms of his Word: "It shall accomplish that which I 
please, and shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent 
it."" And St. James declares, "Of his own will he 
brought us forth by the Word of truth."" Many pas- 
sages of Scripture distinctly state what is the will of 
God ; therefore, the Word expresses God's will. 

God inspired his Word to his servants. Thus he ex- 
plicitly spoke to various of the prophets words like the 
following: "I have put my words in thy mouth!"" 
Amos moreover exclaims: "The Lord God hath 
spoken, who can but prophesy."" Therefore what the 
prophets wrote, is what God "spake by the mouth of 
his holy prophets, which have been since the world be- 
gan."" And the words and writings of the Apostles 
fulfill the promise of Christ: "Ye shall receive power 
after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye 
shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all 
Judea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the 
earth."" Jesus in the final revelations given to St. 
John, distinctly commissioned him, "Write: for these 
words are faithful and true."" 

From the above facts it follows inevitably that God 
who dwells on high, exercises authority over all that 
exists. So, too, the Word which he has spoken and in- 
spired, is authoritative as far as his kingdom extends. 
For, it is God's will to which the Word gives expres- 



14 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

sion, and it is his power and authority that upholds and 
prospers the Word. 

As a matter of most significant historical occurrence, 
God the Lord Jehovah himself is the first writer of 
Holy Scripture. When the eternal God had with man- 
ifest power and majesty descended from heaven to the 
summit of Mt. Sinai in the sight of the awe-struck peo- 
ple gathered at the foot of the trembling mountain, and 
when God had bidden Moses to ascend and come into 
his presence on the top of the Mount,- -he handed to 
Moses the tables of stone on which he, God, had per- 
sonally recorded his law and commandments. Those 
stone tables were the first Holy Scripture ever written. 
In the statutes thus divinely penned on stone, God gives 
precise expression to his authority over the people of 
Israel. He simply and solemnly declares: "I am the 
Lord thy God * * 'f' Ye have seen that I have talked 
with you from heaven. Ye shall not make with me 
gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of 
gold."" The right to charge the chosen people in this 
manner, God bases on the fact that he led them out of 
Egypt, the land of bondage, and that he had revealed 
himself before their eyes. But this is not the only rea- 
son why he proved himself their God ; for when he had 
previously sent Moses to the Israelites, the Lord found- 
ed his right to deliver them on the fact that he is 
Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Fur- 
thermore, God maintains his right in general to give 
laws and commandments on the ground that he is, in 
truth, the Lord, Creator, and Redeemer, not only of 
Israel, but also of the whole world; as he says by 
Isaiah : "I am the first and I am the last ; and beside 



THE SOURCE OF THE AUTHORITY. I5 

me there is no God/"" Forever memorable is, still fur- 
ther, the word of Christ telling his disciples : "All au- 
thority hath been given unto me in heaven and on 
earth;" and on the basis of this power and authority, 
he charged them : "Go ye therefore, and make disciples 
of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the 
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost : teaching 
them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded 
you ;" and then added that great assurance : "Lo, I am 
with you alway, even unto the end of the world."^ No 
less weighty in this connection is also the admonition : 
"Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were 
sealed to the day of redemption."" Thus God himself 
has indicated the manifold reasons why he has author- 
ity among his chosen people as well as over the entire 
world. And the facts proving the authority of God 
are perpetuated in the written Word. 

2 — The Inspired Writers. 

For the successive recording of his Word, God in 
many cases carefully prepared the men chosen by him- 
self. The leading inspired writers were men promi- 
nent also in other affairs of importance attending the 
rise and growth of the kingdom of grace. The fact 
that all writers of Scripture were inspired of God is 
amply testified by Holy Scripture. Every inspired 
writer is true to the time and place he holds in the de- 
velopment of the kingdom of God. Such time and 
place is the sphere in which the writer moves, from 
which he is caused to make references to the past and 
to give forecasts of the future. Where several writers 
are contemporary, each of them is made to give em- 



1 6 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

phasis to some special phase in connection with the 
general events of the period. 

The writers of Scripture are, from their own testi- 
mony, known to have been willing servants of the Al- 
mighty God. While God did, for instance, compel a 
Balaam to prophesy what God wanted, though Balaam 
would fain have earned the gold and silver promised 
by Balak; and again, while God made a Caiaphas un- 
consciously prophesy the divine decree concerning 
Jesus : nevertheless it is true, that the inspired writers 
were conscious and willing instruments of God. What 
reluctance undoubtedly at first existed in the case of 
men like Moses, Jonah, and Jeremiah, St. Peter and 
St. Paul, all such reluctance was overcome by the Lord, 
so that they willingly did the bidding of God. And 
since these writers were thus prepared and willing men, 
therefore, among other reasons and purposes, God se- 
lected them for the recording of his Word. It should 
also be noted that mere possession of even the most 
carefully gathered knowledge of current events in the 
history of God's people could not at all make a person 
of himself produce "inspired" Scriptures. Only per- 
sons moved and inspired by the Holy Spirit, are in- 
spired writers. Therefore Jesus told even the Apostles, 
although they had been eyewitnesses of his eventful 
great life, that they should wait for the Holy Spirit, 
who was to recall to their remembrance the words of 
Christ and lead them into all the truth, and being thus 
endowed with the power of the Spirit of God, they were 
to be Christ's witnesses. Whoever, then, is inspired by 
the Holy Spirit, is an inspired, trustworthy writer of 
Scripture. But whoever is not inspired, is not a writer 



THE SOURCE OF THE AUTHORITY. VJ 

of Scripture, whatever else he may be. All the writers 
of Scripture, accordingly, were instruments of the 
Spirit of God ; and all the writings they produced, to- 
gether constitute but one book: the written Word of 
God or Holy Scripture. 

A few of the inspired writers may now be noted in- 
dividually, so as to see how, notwithstanding the differ- 
ing elements of personal character and endowment, and 
environment, guidance, and era — ^how all writers were 
nevertheless led and directed by the Holy Spirit, who 
performed his work and spoke his Word through each 
one as the Spirit would. 

Upon handing him the stone tables, God instructed 
Moses to write all that the Lord had told him ; namely, 
all things that pertained to the covenant of God with 
the Israelites. This fact proves Moses to have been 
the first of the inspired writers. He, the chosen leader 
of the covenant people, enjoying an eminence unparal- 
leled in Old Testament times, recorded by divine inspir- 
ation the occurrences of his time in connection with an- 
tecedent history and with references to the Prophet 
who was to come. The singularly eminent advantages 
accorded to Moses, such as the impressiveness of the 
signs with which God overcame the timid reluctance of 
Moses, when God called the exile and said : "Who hath 
made man's mouth? . . . Now therefore go, and I 
will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt 
say ;"** further, his being summoned on Mt. Sinai into 
the very presence of the God of heaven to receive the 
written law, plans for the tabernacle, together with oth- 
er instructions ; and again, his constant oral intercourse 
with God within the Holy of holies in the tabernacle — 



l8 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

these advantages explain why Moses stands so high 
among inspired writers. 

King David, during whose reign the Israelites at- 
tained the height of their national power, is among the 
most notable of Scripture writers. He, "the sweet 
psalmist of Israel," testified of his inspiration: "The 
Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in 
my tongue."^ Once a mere shepherd boy, David had 
been elevated by God to the royal throne. From this 
favored position, which came to him only after years 
of conflicts with enemies round about, David was di- 
vinely enabled to view the coming of the King of glory, 
whose kingdom is everlasting, and who, foiling all 
enemies, would lead captive the captivity of the people 
of God, "that the Lord God might dwell among them."^" 

When the national power of the covenant people be- 
gan to wane after idolatry had become general through- 
out the land, there were sent a number of prophets 
who preached and wrote of impending dreadful visita- 
tions and a subsequent great deliverance; foremost 
among these prophets is Isaiah. He had already 
begun to prophesy, when his commission as prophet 
was very sublimely confirmed by a vision which he had 
of the Lord of hosts sitting on a high and lofty throne 
in the heavenly temple, and surrounded by worshiping 
and adoring seraphim. Isaiah's greatness in Scripture 
writing consists in his distinct comprehensive prophe- 
cies concerning the birth and reign of Immanuel the 
Prince of Peace, concerning the vicarious sufferings 
of the Redeemer, and concerning the great redemption 
which the Lord would bring to his people and to all 
nations of the world. 



THE SOURCE OF THE AUTHORITY. I9 

Some time after the ascension of the Lord Jesus, his 
life and ministry became a subject which many per- 
sons had "taken in hand to set forth in order" : of the 
inspired writers, St. Luke best records the prevaiUng 
conditions and historical events of those days. From 
the Apostles, he secured careful information about the 
things connected with the Savior's birth, life, and 
work. And his faithful association with St. Paul, kept 
him informed also in regard to the labors of the 
Apostles. St. Luke's account of the coming of the 
Holy Spirit is the only extended record in Scripture 
concerning that most noteworthy event, and imparts 
special emphasis to the prominence of St. Luke as an 
inspired writer. 

In a manner astoundingly singular, the young Phari- 
see, Saul of Tarsus, was met on the road to Damascus 
by Jesus of Nazareth, whose Name and work, Saul 
wanted to exterminate. That appearance of Jesus gave 
him a glimpse of the wonderful glory of Christ, and 
drew him to the Savior. Henceforth calling himself 
Paul, he labored faithfully and untiringly at his new 
life-work : bearing the name of Jesus through the Gen- 
tile world. By word and epistle, he testified of the un- 
searchable riches of the grace of God in Christ, the cru- 
cified and risen Lord. In St. Paul, the Church was giv- 
en her most active apostle and writer of inspired truth. 

From the shores of the Galilean sea, Jesus called, 
among others, a fisherman named John to be his dis- 
ciple and apostle. Attached to Jesus from the begin- 
ning, St. John gradually became the most devoted fol- 
lower of the Lord. He was the beloved disciple. Like 
to none else, it was given him to write the truths that 



20 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

solve the profound questions as to the person and na- 
tures of Christ, and as to the Holy Trinity. Equally 
remarkable is he because of the series of marvelous 
prophecies and visions, that were vouchsafed to him, 
which prophecies pertain to the future of the Church 
and the coming again of Christ. In brief, St. John is 
the greatest of inspired writers, because by him are 
given the clearest and fullest statements of God, of the 
Savior, and of the kingdom of heaven. 

As with the more eminent writers of Scripture, so 
with all the inspired writers: they are living instru- 
ments called by God for his work and moved by him 
to record what he wanted written. Though the iden- 
tity of several writers is not stated, their writings are 
quite as authoritative as the Scriptures whose writers 
are known. With reference to the degree of promi- 
nence of inspired writers, it may in general be noted 
that their importance varies in accordance with the 
contents of their writings. However, while the 
measure of inspiration differs in degree, it is always 
the same in kind. The inspired writers all, whatever 
the age and time in which they lived, all alike were but 
means employed by the Holy Spirit for making known 
in progressive order the facts of salvation. Men were 
instrumental as the writers of Holy Scripture, but its 
author is the Spirit of God. 

In the inspiration, God simply put into their mind 
and their mouth, what his servants were to say and 
write. This is all that inspired men did ; namely, they 
let God speak through them. For, as the human body 
is created of God, just as well as the soul that dwells 
within this temple ; so the external Word is inspired of 



THE SOURCE OF THE AUTHORITY. 21 

God, just as well as the internal Word embodied there- 
in. Cjod's way of speaking through men indeed clearly 
brings out the divers characteristics of the writers; it 
also proves the power of God for his own purposes to 
utilize all gifts and talents, with which he has endowed 
men. It thus is clear what God meant when he said : "I 
will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt 
say ;"" or again : "Behold, I have put my words in thy 
mouth ;"" and still further : "Speak with my words unto 
them,"** — namely, that they simply were to express 
things as he verbally guided them. Moreover, plenary 
divine inspiration is proved invincibly by the most mar- 
velous of all prophecies, the prophecy in other tongues, 
the chief instance of which occurred on Whitsunday, 
the day of the Holy Spirit. St. Peter expressly declares 
the speaking with other tongues on that day to have 
been prophecy. The same truth about prophecy in other 
tongues is taught by the passage which St. Paul 
quotes : "By men of strange tongues and by the lips of 
strangers will I speak unto this people ; and not even 
thus will they hear me, saith the Lord."** Jesus himself 
had declared concerning his followers, "They shall 
speak with new tongues."^ Furthermore, many quota- 
tions in the New Testament refer to the Old Testament 
simply as the Word of God; speaking of it as the 
"things whereof God spake by the mouth of his holy 
prophets which have been since the world began."" To 
make the matter of verbal inspiration still clearer, St. 
Peter writes : "No prophecy of Scripture is of private 
interpretation. For no prophecy ever came by the will 
of man : but men spake from God, being moved by the 
Holy Ghost."^ And besides, it is distinctly claimed: 



22 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

"Every Scripture is inspired of God.'"' So it must be 
concluded that the Holy Spirit is the Author of Holy 
Scripture ; whereas every prophet and apostle, who was 
by him inspired to write, was but a penman of t!\e 
Spirit of God. His authority is the authority forever 
enjoyed by the writings divinely produced through the 
use of human writers as the chosen instruments. 

3. — The Inspired Writings. 

The writings which by divine inspiration perpetuate 
the Word that proceeded from the mouth of God, to- 
gether with other relevant information, are rightly call- 
ed inspired writings. All inspired writings have a 
common source of origin; that is, inspiration by the 
Holy Spirit. And God being the Author of the Scrip- 
tures, therefore they truly are, in a general as well as 
collective sense, the Word of God. Holy Scripture is 
a perfect record of all the essential substance of the 
revelations and teachings of God and of his purpose 
and dealings with men. Still it is not an exhaustively 
detailed summary of all that God ever said or did by 
prophets, by Christ, and by apostles. The last verse 
in St. John's Gospel, for instance, declares : "There 
are also many other things which Jesus did, the which 
if they should be written every one, I suppose that even 
the world itself would not contain the books that should 
be written."^* Nevertheless, what has been recorded 
in the Scriptures, is abundantly sufficient for the pur- 
pose of the Word as the authorized means of grace. 

Though written part upon part, one after another, in 
the course of many centuries, yet the inspired writings 
possess unity of thought throughout. The coherence 



THE SOURCE OF THE AUTHORITY. 23 

and unity of Holy Scripture consists in the testimony 
that it gives of Christ and the redemption of the world 
by him. Therefore Christ says of the Scriptures writ- 
ten by the prophets : "These are they which bear wit- 
ness of me."^'' And the Scriptures written by the 
Apostles are a direct fulfillment of the words of the 
Savior : "Ye shall be my witnesses . . . unto the ut- 
termost parts of the earth."^^ 

The redemption of the world by God in Christ is 
coherently testified with ever growing clearness from 
Genesis to Revelations. Genesis already contains the 
theme of the whole subject-matter of Scripture. With 
the record of the fall of man, that book records God's 
promise of the Redeemer by whom the power of the 
serpent was to be crushed ; and likewise, with the ac- 
count of the call of Abraham, there is interwoven God's 
promise of him in whom all nations were to be blessed. 
The people of Israel, later on, were delivered from 
Egypt for the very reason that God might in time fulfill 
the promises made from the beginning. The offer of 
salvation by the law did not disannul the promises, but 
was to be an object lesson teaching the world the holy 
will of God, and the sinful, helpless condition of man ; 
so that all might thereby learn the more faithfully to 
treasure the new and permanent offer of salvation by 
grace through faith in Christ the Redeemer. Thus the 
writings of the Old Testament show and record how 
God prepared the world for the day of redemption and 
the coming of the promised Messiah. The writings 
of the New Testament similarly record and establish 
the fact that the promises of God are fulfilled in Jesus 
Christ. All the Apostolic writings testify, that the day 



24 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

of redemption is at hand ; that the Redeemer of man- 
kind is come; and that he will give eternal life to as 
many as will receive him the Christ, the Anointed of 
God. The Book of Revelations contains the conclud- 
ing thoughts about the eternal redemption; speaking 
of the time, when all the nations of earth are become 
Christ's, and when redemption will be completed by the 
coming again of the Redeemer to gather together his 
ransomed people. From Genesis to Revelations, thus, 
unity of thought, plan, and purpose, based on the theme 
of redemption, is preserved throughout all the inspired 
writings. This essential coherence, unity, and power 
of thought and spirit proves all Scriptures to be the 
work and product of one great mind : the unsearchable 
mind of God. 

The question with regard to the authenticity of each 
and every writing of Scripture is simply. Was that 
writing inspired ? Every writing known to have been 
inspired, is authoritative Scripture. And wherever di- 
vine inspiration is known to have produced a writing, 
all other questions regarding it, such as of supposed 
sources, human authorship, and present condition of 
text, are at least subordinate in importance; and so 
far as the authority of the Word is concerned, they 
are immaterial : that much is evident from the attitude 
of Christ and his Apostles. Because, the authority of 
Scripture has its source solely in the fact of inspiration 
by God the Holy Spirit. 

The inspiration of the Old Testament Scriptures is 
attested by the attitude of the Savior in upholding them 
as the divine authority which cannot be broken and 
which must in every jot and tittle be fulfilled. The 



THE SOURCE OF THE AUTHORITY. 25 

Apostles, being, like Jesus, anointed and guided by the 
Holy Spirit, held precisely the same attitude. This at- 
titude accordingly is the proper one for all who follow 
the Lord ; for, Christ, the Lord and Head of the Church, 
is the teacher sent from heaven and is anointed with 
the fulness of the Holy Spirit, so that he knows what 
he affirms and whereof he speaks. Concerning the 
New Testament, like testimony obtains that its writings 
were given by divine inspiration. Because, Jesus said 
the Holy Spirit would be given the Apostles to abide 
with them forever; and further, because the Spirit of 
God inspired all true disciples, which includes the rec- 
ognized colaborers of the Apostles. From the relevant 
facts, it is evident that the Holy Spirit, dividing gifts 
severally to each man as he will, selected several of 
the colaborers of the Apostles to write Scripture. In 
connection therewith a most important principle is 
clearly brought out; namely, as the Apostles had to 
learn from Christ, before they were inspired by the 
Holy Spirit for their work of witnessing of Christ, so 
the companions of the Apostles had to learn from the 
eyewitnesses of Christ, before they were inspired by 
the Holy Spirit to witness like the Apostles. St. Luke, 
for instance, explicitly mentions the Apostles as the 
source of his information. They alone, in fact, had 
been with the Lord from the beginning; and though 
not eyewitnesses of his birth at Bethlehem, they had a 
truly reliable witness in the person of Mary, the mo- 
ther of Jesus, concerning the facts attending the birth 
and childhood of Christ. The inspiration of the writ- 
ings constituting Holy Scripture is, moreover, conclu- 



26 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

sively testified in the inspired Word by him who is its 
Author. 

It may here be observed that the Spirit of God in- 
spired not only the doctrinal and prophetical writings, 
but the entire Scripture : doctrinal, historical, and pro- 
phetical. In the first place, this is evident, because 
Scriptural history is inseparably interwoven with 
prophecy. Again, the real though hidden causes of 
events and the various motives of action, are fully 
known only to God; he alone, therefore, could com- 
municate true historical records. Further, when 
Christ said, "Search the Scriptures," " he referred to 
the whole Scriptures: he himself frequently quoted 
historical facts as well as doctrinal and prophetical 
statements. And again, by reason of divine inspiration, 
Scripture is an organic record of what God has said, 
done, and promised with reference to the redemption 
of man through Jesus Christ the Redeemer. 

Some inspired writings contain parallel records of 
the same events. In these cases, each writing serves 
a specific purpose which could best be emphasized by 
a special writing. Yet, while diverging in certain de- 
tails, they agree in a general aspect, because, the most 
important factor, which they have in common, is inspir- 
ation by the Holy Spirit. 

Whatever slight variations, such as omissions or 
parenthetical insertions, may have occurred to Scrip- 
ture by transcribing, such variations do not in the least 
derogate from the authority of the written Word of 
God. For, to Christ and his Apostles, the authority of 
the Scriptures recorded by prophets, was above all 
questioning ; and in truth, present day disciples are not 



THE SOURCE OF THE AUTHORITY. 27 

above their Lord and Master: in this respect, just 
as with regard to the question of authorship and like 
matters, the attitude of Christ is decisive. Similarly, 
the authority of the writings of the Apostles remains 
in force permanently, till all Scripture is fulfilled. The 
inspired writings as they have been handed down to 
the present age, have precisely the same authority 
which they had in the day when the Holy Spirit in- 
spired them. 

Since the last of inspired writers laid down his pen, 
no more inspired Scripture has been forthcoming. Af- 
ter that day, prophets of Christ were not required ; be- 
cause, the Savior had come. And eyewitnesses were no 
more living ; for, Jesus had ascended to heaven. As the 
statement of Jesus: "Ye have been with me from the 
beginning,"'^ applied only to the Apostles ; therefore it 
was none but the Apostles whom Jesus made his chosen 
witnesses to the uttermost parts of the earth, and to 
whom he said: "The Holy Spirit shall teach you all 
things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said 
unto you."^^ And again, none but their fellow-workers 
could claim to have received personal authoritative in- 
formation from them "which from the beginning were 
eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word."*" Thus the 
close of the Apostolic era marks the cessation of in- 
spired writing and completion of Holy Scripture. 
Scripture itself bears the impress of completeness upon 
its sacred contents. Its opening pages speak of the 
creation; its middle pages witness the redemption; its 
closing pages prophesy about the restoration. 

In conclusion, the source of the authority of Holy 
Scripture, the inspired Word of God, is the Lord God 



28 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

of eternity. He himself is the great Author of the 
Word given by divine inspiration. While the authority 
of the Author endures, the Word of Scripture will con- 
tinue as the unimpaired power of God unto salvation. 



II 

Preliminary Remarks. 

THE Authority of the Word has its ground in the 
contents of Holy Scripture. What souls need 
to know in order to obtain salvation, is the information 
which the Word contains. Therefore, the authority of 
the Word of God has a definite foundation ; that foun- 
dation is the sum and substance of the subject-matter 
of Scripture. God has spoken the Word, revealed the 
mysteries of his kingdom, given the knowledge of his 
ways, shown his dealings with men, inspired the truths 
of redemption, — all for the reason that men should 
have clear, precise information by which to go in mat- 
ters of faith, and on which to build. 

Apart from the information recorded in the Word 
of God, there is nowhere any ground of equal authority 
in matters of the salvation of man. For, that which 
the inspired Word does not contain, include, and com- 
prehend, is not a part of the Word of God, and does 
not share its authority, but is subordinate to Holy 
Scripture. And the divine guidance accorded to those 
of obedient faith in the Word, is something essentially 
different from the doubtful inspiration of those who are 
not obedient to the Word of Scripture. It is certain, 
that no one else than God could furnish like informa- 
tion of spiritual things — things past, present, and fu- 

29 



30 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

ture. He, then, being the Author, the contents of 
Scripture alone forever constitute the authentic ground 
and rock of authority in the matters of which God's 
Word treats. And he that said, "I am the Lord: that 
is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, 
neither my praise to graven images;"^ the same also 
says, "To this man will I look, even to him that is poor 
and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my 
word/" Through and in his Word, God ever from the 
beginning gave to men whatever information he want- 
ed them to have. Therefore, the Word leads to the 
wells of salvation, as St. Paul tells Timothy: "From 
a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are 
able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith 
which is in Christ Jesus."* 

Scripture is a treasury of information. Its con- 
tents are incomparably superior to those of any unin- 
spired writings. Being the Word of God, it contains 
inexhaustible treasures of living faith, eternal life, and 
spiritual power. Into the Word, God has laid and en- 
wrapped great depths, riches, and fulness of saving 
knowledge and divine wisdom. From the contents of 
Scripture, men learn truly to know God and rightly 
to know themselves. The Word mediates divine grace 
and spiritual life ; it teaches believers how to worship 
God in spirit and in truth. Unapproachable and hid- 
den indeed is God, the eternal Fountainhead of life; 
but of them that seek him with their whole heart, he 
lets himself be found by the hearing and keeping of 
the inspired Word. The key enabling the seeking heart 
to find God by means of the Word, is enlightenment by 
the Holy Spirit. 



THE GROUNDS OF THE AUTHORITY. 3I 

By noting the contents of Scripture, the nature of 
the ground that constitutes the vital authority of the 
Word, will become plain. Spiritual truth is what 
Scripture inculcates; and that is the kind of truth 
which the world needs most of all. The Word of God 
reveals the true relation of God to man, and of man 
to God, and the relation to both of the Mediator be- 
tween them. j\Ien are by the Word informed of the re- 
demption with all that is implied therein, as seen in its 
doctrinal, historical, and prophetical development. The 
writings of Holy Scripture, accordingly, may be ar- 
ranged into three divisions : doctrine, history, and 
prophecy. This classification, however, is not exclu- 
sive or separative; for in each kind of Scripture, the 
others also are more or less extensively represented. 
It is merely the main feature of the individual writings, 
which enters into consideration in this threefold group- 
ing of Scripture. Doctrine expresses God's will, works 
faith, and guides believing men ; history shows the fate 
of the people, who, upon hearing the Word, either 
loved and accepted or disdained and rejected it; proph- 
ecy points to future events, offers promises, and 
strengthens the hope. The interrelation of doctrine, 
history, and prophecy is characteristic of the essential 
unity of Scripture. 

In Scriptural religion, doctrine precedes history and 
prophecy. Doctrine constitutes the deepest foundation 
ground of the authority of Holy Scripture. "Thus 
saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel ; 
I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, 
which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest 
go."* Moses, already, had exhorted the people: 



32 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

"Hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the 
judgments, which I teach you for to do them, that ye 
may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord 
God of your fathers giveth you."° By the Psalmist, 
the Lord declares : "I will instruct thee and teach in 
the way which thou shalt go.'" The writer of Proverbs 
says : "Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed : 
but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. 
The law of the wise is a foundation of life, to depart 
from the snares of death.'" By Ezekiel, God said : "I 
am the Lord your God ; walk in my statutes, and keep 
my judgments, and do them."* That knowledge of the 
truth precedes spiritual freedom is what Jesus taught 
his disciples when he told them: "Ye shall know the 
truth, and the truth shall make you free.'" And St. 
Paul directed Timothy : "Take heed to thyself and to 
thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing 
this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear 
thee."" The priority of doctrine is thus plainly and 
fully taught. 

I. — Doctrinal Contents. 

Doctrinal principles are given first that the world 
may know God and obtain eternal life from him. On 
the basis of this knowledge is founded the life and 
development of godly people. The character of their 
life, so far as different from worldly life, is the effect 
produced by divine doctrines. Development in his- 
tory of the people of God is conditioned upon the faith- 
fulness with which they live according to the teaching 
of the Word. The degree attained in relative perfec- 
tion of life, indicates how far doctrine has been assim- 



THE GROUNDS OF THE AUTHORITY. 33 

ilated. While history suffers changes, doctrine enjoys 
the permanence of revealed truth. 

The presentation of Scriptural doctrine was progres- 
sive. Truth, as revealed by God, is embodied in this 
doctrine. For God "willeth that all men should be 
saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth."" Spir- 
itual truth comprises all things which are contained 
in the revelations of God as recorded in Scripture. As 
he gave them to his servants, by such degrees were the 
teachings of Scripture unfolded. It is by doctrine, 
that God informs the world of what his will is rela- 
tive to the life of men; which implies the fact, that 
man received knowledge concerning God and his 
works, as well as knowledge of human nature with 
its need of redemption. The Scriptural doctrines show 
the way of life, which man is exhorted to seek ; and they 
expose the way of death, which he is admonished to 
avoid. They also enable all men clearly to judge and 
discriminate what is true, right, and good from what 
is false, wrong, and evil. In plain instructions and 
general directions, in laws and commandments, in 
promises and prophecies ; exhortations, admonitions, 
and warnings; hymns, psalms, and prayers, — the doc- 
trinal principles of Scripture are promulgated. Since 
immeasurably important matters are involved in sound 
teachings, men are ever to treasure them. "With thee 
is the fountain of life : in thy light shall we see light."" 
And Jesus refers to the great reward of those that ob- 
serve his doctrines, saying: "He that hath my com- 
mandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me : 
and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and 
I will love him and will manifest myself unto him."" 



34 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

Again, Scripture says: "Receive my instruction, and 
not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. 
For wisdom is better than rubies."" 

Largely, but by no means altogether in a figurative 
style, doctrinal statements are presented by manifold 
parables, allegories, similes, metaphors, and other 
figures of speech. Figurative language serves to make 
more explicit and emphatic the truths that are thus ex- 
pressed. Jesus, for instance, very frequently used 
parables, and St. Mark relates, "With many such par- 
ables spake he the word unto them, as they were able 
to hear it: and without a parable spake he not unto 
them : but privately to his own disciples he expounded 
all things."^' 

What, now, are the most fundamental doctrines of 
the revealed religion, Christianity? They are, God 
created the world ; redeemed fallen man ; and sanctifies 
man redeemed. 

God created the world. He is taught to be the Cre- 
ator of all things. Man also is his creature — a creature 
originally in his very image. How inexpressibly mag- 
nificent are the works of creation ! What mortal mind 
can comprehend the vastness of the universe, the num- 
ber of created things? Radiance of light and gloom 
of darkness, beauty of life and pallor of death; the 
countless living creatures inhabiting the earth and the 
myriads of stars of heaven, the happy hosts in heavenly 
realms and the sad multitudes in hell, who disobeyed 
their Maker; men and angels, worlds and heavens — 
all, all are the work of God. He himself declares, "I 
have made the earth and created man upon it : I, even 
my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their 



THE GROUNDS OF THE AUTHORITY. 3$ 

host have I commanded."^' Truly: "The heavens de- 
clare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his 
handiwork."" What marvelous evidence of the great-r 
ness and goodness and wisdom of God ! And by his 
providence it is, that all these things are upheld. He 
knows the needs of every creature, the least as well 
as the greatest, and he supplies the wants of them all 
out of his great abundance; for "The Lord shall re- 
joice in his works.'"* 

Glorious as the works of creation are, yet who can 
adequately portray the transcending majesty of him 
that is the Creator and Lord of all? The most pro- 
found content of Scripture is none other than the testi- 
mony concerning God and the Savior. In the course 
of time, God himself by various servants progressively 
made known his nature and being. Scripture teaches, 
"God is a Spirit."" And he is thus taught to be triune 
and, among other attributes, almighty, eternal, omni- 
scient, omnipresent, immutable, infinite, holy; and in 
relation to mankind he proved himself righteous, wise, 
just, true, as well as merciful, gracious, compassionate, 
good, loving. Knowledge of God is the highest infor- 
mation man can receive. Jesus says: "This is eternal 
life, that they should know thee the only true God, and 
him whom thou didst send, even Jesus Christ."^ The 
Seraphim that circle about his throne with covered 
faces ever sing and say of God the Lord Jehovah: 
"Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole 
earth is full of his glory."*^ 

God redeemed fallen man. Redemption is the sur- 
passing theme of Scripture doctrine and, in fact, of the 
entire Word of God. By redemption, the restoration 



36 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

of fellowship between God and man is purposed. On 
the ground of the information which the Scriptures 
give of the holy Triune God and of the sinful condition 
of man, the divine plan of the redemption of the world 
is unfolded with ever growing clearness and precision. 
It is only where the Word of God is heard and re- 
ceived, that men can learn to believe in God, and that 
they will begin to long for his mercy. Since the pow- 
ers of human nature, which are spiritually dead in tres- 
passes and sins, can in no case by works of law or ef- 
forts self-designed attain the righteousness of God's 
law and the newness of spiritual life, therefore God 
gave his Son to be men's "wisdom and righteousness 
and sanctification and redemption." In the light of the 
divine Word, the unregenerate man learns what barrier 
is between him and God: sin with its curse. From 
the same Word, the believer gradually derives knowl- 
edge of the fact that there is but one divinely ordered 
way to fellowship with God : atonement with its bless- 
ings. So it is that all Prophets and Apostles witness 
the immutable truth that Christ by the sacrifice of his 
holy life, atoned for the sins of mankind. "While we 
were enemies we were reconciled to God through the 
death of his Son."" Christ is "the Lamb of God, 
which taketh away the sin of the world.'"^ The Lord 
Jesus himself says that his body and blood was "given 
and shed for many unto remission of sins ;"^ and con- 
sequently Jesus maintains, "He that believeth on me, 
though he die, yet shall he live."^ The Scripture fur- 
thermore declares: "To him bear all the prophets 
witness, that through his name every one that be- 
lieveth on him shall receive remission of sins.'"" The 



THE GROUNDS OF THE AUTHORITY. 37 

redemption, so far as atonement and reconciliation 
with God is in question, is solely and exclusively the 
work of the Savior Jesus Christ. He is the mighty 
Redeemer whose righteousness endureth forever and 
whose infinite grace is abundantly sufficient for each 
and every believer. Faith in Christ obtains the eter- 
nal righteousness and with it the peace of God. 

God sanctifies man redeemed. By regeneration, the 
redeemed are received into the kingdom of God. Re- 
newed spiritual life in the image of God the Savior is 
thereby granted to the human soul. Regeneration with 
its consequent sanctification is the way in which God 
the Holy Spirit continues and completes the work of 
redemption. This doctrine is indeed of deep signifi- 
cance. For, could the natural man, even though recon- 
ciled and justified, enter into the kingdom of God? 
No : it is impossible for flesh and blood to appear in 
the spiritual world; therefore Jesus says, "Ye must be 
born anew."" Hence the Holy Spirit, in the wash- 
ing of regeneration, gives new life to all who are jus- 
tified by faith in Christ, "that, being justified by his 
grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope 
of eternal life."^ It is by their spiritual nature, which 
is renewed in true knowledge after the image of God, 
that believers are enabled to do the will of God and to 
live the new life hid with Christ in God. But without 
Jesus, even the regenerate cannot live, walk, or work 
in the spirit ; as Christ reminded the disciples, "Apart 
from me we can do nothing."^ Ever to keep believers 
in communion with the Lord Jesus, is the loving, ear- 
nest endeavor of the Holy Spirit. Only on this condi- 
tion, Christians can preserve unspotted and pure the 



38 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

newness of life in the earthen vessel. In one and the 
same person, the physical or carnal and the spiritual or 
regerf^rate natures exist together throughout the con- 
tinuation of a believer's earthly life. After the death 
of the physical nature, the person and spiritual nature 
of the ransomed enter paradise. And on resurrection 
day, the elect are received into perfect fellowship with 
Christ and God in the kingdom of eternal glory. 

What is true of these fundamental doctrines, applies 
to all other teachings of Scripture; that is, they de- 
scribe the work of the Triune God in creating, and re- 
deeming, and restoring the world. Many of these 
teachings which in the Old Testament are but partial- 
ly developed, are presented with fulness and precision 
in the New. Especially the doctrines bearing on atone- 
ment and regeneration are more fully stated in the 
New Testament ; while the Old more amply brings out 
those dealing with creation. In short, the teachings of 
both Testaments are supplementary to each other : the 
Old foreshadows the New, and the New fulfills the Old. 
Having reached their complete and final presentation 
in the inspired writings, the doctrines of Scripture 
are of permanent authority in all matters of theology 
and confession of faith ; so that all Christian teaching 
must accord with the Scriptural ground. 

2. — Historical Contents. 

Among the contents of Scripture, history serves 
very salient purposes. Inspired history shows the 
real underlying causes of recorded events and the ef- 
fects which follow upon those causes. It is to be con- 
sidered not so much a naive recital of mere superficial 



THE GROUNDS OF THE AUTHORITY. 39 

circumstances and facts of events, as rather a true ex- 
position of the marvelous way in which God, on the 
basis of his holy teaching, directs and molds the destiny 
of men and nations. Determined by the principles of 
divine doctrine, inspired history in its various stages 
frequently is at the same time the fulfillment of some 
previously given prophecy. Furthermore, inspired his- 
tory clearly unfolds the plan and counsel of God con- 
cerning the redemption of the world. This history also 
proves that there is constant progress in the develop- 
ment of the kingdom of God ; even periods of seeming 
standstill or retrogression serve to further the general 
growth by maturing inward life or by gathering re- 
serve strength for days of greater advances. 

The course of history, of entire nations and of every 
individual life, is directed by God. In Proverbs, for 
instance, it is written: "The king's heart is in the 
hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water : he turneth it 
whithersoever he will."^° And how expressive is the 
passage! — "The Lord bringeth the counsel of the 
heathen to nought : he maketh the devices of the people 
of none effect. The counsel of the Lord standeth for 
ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations."^^ 
God so guides events that the petition of his children 
may be fulfilled, "Thy will be done on earth, as it is 
in heaven." The information supplied by Scriptural 
history brings to light the true, hidden causes of histor- 
ical occurrences, such as the divine will and counsel, 
plans and purposes; it also exposes the contrary 
schemes, intentions, and aims of the kingdom of dark- 
ness : likewise the nature and kind of human motives, 
designs and devices are plainly unfurled. In truth, 



40 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORu. 

God not only plans, but also works out everything af- 
ter the counsel of his will : sustaining all that is in har- 
mony with his will and counsel ; and overruling all that 
is contrary to his divine plans and purposes and that 
boldly defies him, thinking: "Who is the Lord, that I 
should obey his voice P"^'' 

Seeing how complex the causes of history are, one 
may well ask, What man could give a faithful and ade- 
quate account thereof? Who could reveal the secret 
counsels, the divine and the human? "Produce your 
cause, saith the Lord ; bring forth your strong reasons, 
saith the King of Jacob. Let them bring them forth 
and show us what shall happen: let them show the 
former things, what they be, that we may consider 
them, and know the latter end of them ; or declare us 
things for to come. Show the things that are to come 
hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods : yea, do 
good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold 
it together . . . Who hath declared from the be- 
ginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we 
may say. He is righteous? Yea, there is none that 
showeth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there 
is none that heareth your words. "^* Surely, God alone, 
who searcheth the hearts and reins, to whom nothing 
is unknown, from whom no one can hide and nothing 
can be concealed, and who directs and orders all things, 
— ^he alone can know and present in truthful, perfect 
way the intricate causes underlying the history of the 
world. 

In contemplating the general phase of history and 
its often so amazing developments, unsearchable hap- 
penings, and miraculous incidents, it should be remem- 



THE GROUNDS OF THE AUTHORITY. 4I 

bered that while God, as a rule, orders things after the 
general principles revealed in his Word, yet many, 
though by no means all, of his rules also admit of ex- 
ceptions, where the circumstances or exigencies of a 
case justify special considerations to be made in the 
working together of his justice, mercy, and wisdom. 
That Satan, too, is a factor in history, because he has 
his work in the children of disobedience, ought be 
borne in mind by any one noting the complexity of hu- 
man events. History, moreover, proves the whole- 
someness of the divine laws and doctrines ; for it vindi- 
cates the correctness of doctrine as well as the truth of 
prophecy. The undeniable facts of history in connec- 
tion with their true causes, enlighten and instruct men ; 
so that they may the more readily comprehend the 
truths of doctrine. Consequently, the ground of the 
authority of the Word of God consists not only of doc- 
trine, but also inspired history with its richly illus- 
trated information concerning especially the final causes 
of history controlled and ordered by the Lord of 
heaven and earth. 

Scriptural history, then, shows how the life of in- 
dividuals and nations developed in accordance with the 
revealed Word of God under the ever faithful guid- 
ance of the Holy Spirit. Whatever historical facts are 
recorded, have a connection directly or indirectly with 
the course of events that mark the unfolding of the 
plan of salvation. Foreseeing the attitude of men to- 
ward his Word, God planned most comprehensively 
the ways how to save and deliver his own; for "The 
Lord knoweth them that are his."^ At their appointed 
time, the events of redemption took place ; and no ac- 



42 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

cident, that is, nothing unforeseen could occur and in- 
terfere with his eternal plans. While part of the his- 
torical record exhibits human unbelief as well as men's 
faith, still, those very things also were written to be for 
the learning and instruction, warning and admonition, 
comfort and edification of believers of subsequent ages. 
The course of history ever progresses. Inevitably, the 
last day is drawing closer, while one generation after 
another comes and goes. 

The history recorded of the people who lived in the 
centuries from Adam to Moses, pictures the attitude 
which men at the beginning took toward God and his 
Word. The facts show that but few were believ- 
ing, while the many were wayward and indifferent. 
Such men as Abel, Enoch ,and Noah are typical of the 
best class of primeval believers. The reason why God 
caused the flood to come and destroy all people except 
Noah and his family, is that the world in those days, 
deeply sunk into wickedness, universally refused to be 
admonished by the Holy Spirit. 

With Abraham begins a new epoch. Following him, 
the number of believers ever grew ; and the prophecies 
of the Redeemer were being given with greater clear- 
ness. In the time of Moses, God still more perfectly 
revealed himself; fulfilled the promises of giving the 
holy land to the Israelites ; and, by giving his laws and 
commandments, prepared the way for the eternal re- 
demption through Christ. 

The history of the children of Israel differs radically 
from that of other nations before the Christian era. 
"What one nation in the earth is like thy people, even 
like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people 



THE GROUNDS OF THE AUTHORITY. 43 

to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for 
you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy 
people, which thou redeemest to thee from Egypt, from 
the nations and their gods ?"^^ The Israelites were the 
only nation selected by God to prepare men for the 
salvation by the one Mediator and Redeemer of all the 
earth. Israel's destiny, for weal or for woe, depended 
upon the covenant made with them by the Lord Je- 
hovah. He the eternal God had made and chosen 
Israel ; not vice versa ! "This people have I formed 
for myself ; they shall show forth my praise. "^^ Other 
nations might indeed devise and make themselves gods 
after their several fancy ; but not so the Israelites : they 
knew and worshiped the only living true God, who so 
fully revealed himself to the covenant people, while 
to the other nations he remained "the unknown God." 
The children of Israel also had explicitly consented to 
be the chosen people of God and to comply with his 
words and statutes. On their fidelity to the Word, the 
laws and ordinances of God, their welfare was thence- 
forth conditioned. High as knowledge of the true God 
is above apprehension of humanly devised gods, so 
high was the inner life of the covenant people above 
that of the rest of the ancient world. Israel's leaders, 
judges, priests, kings, and prophets, notwithstanding 
the falling away of some and the desultoriness of oth- 
ers, were led by the Spirit of God in accordance with 
the divine counsel and will ; similarly were guided all 
believers of that nation. In explanation of his long- 
suffering toward them, God said: "I do not this for 
your sakes, O house of Israel, but for my holy name's 
sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, 



44 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

whither ye went."" With the coming of Christ the 
Savior, God had fulfilled to the Jews all the Messianic 
prophecies given from Abraham to Malachi. The spe- 
cial calling of the Israelites was thereby solved ; for, all 
nations alike were promised to share the blessings of 
God in the divine Redeemer. 

The details of the history of Israel point out the 
times of faithfulness as well as waywardness of 
the nation. They portray the faithful manner in 
which God by the prophets admonished them all 
and give a vivid picture of the causes whereby 
the backsliding nation of the Old Covenant for- 
feited the grace of God. By the Israelites' his- 
tory, it is demonstrated, how manifold are the 
ways of the Lord; how glorious are his blessings and 
how terrible yet just are the judgments of God; who 
visits sin even upon his elect, and who rejects harden- 
ed transgressors, but guides repenting ones with long- 
suffering and kindness and crowns them with grace 
and mercy. Thus passed the centuries of the Jews. 
But the lessons conveyed, endure. 

With Christ, an entirely new history begins on earth : 
the history of the new covenant people. Upon the 
dreary night of lonesome longing, there dawned the 
golden light that came from heaven. Jesus, the Savior 
of sinners, the Example of the regenerate, is the heart 
of New Testament history. "I am the light of the 
world," he says, "he that followeth me shall not walk 
in darkness, but shall have the light of life."'^ All the 
precious prophecies are fulfilled in him, which speak 
of the Annointed One ; as for instance : "Unto you that 
fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise, 



THE GROUNDS OF THE AUTHORITY. 45 

with healing in his wings. "^* In person, Christ is tran- 
scendingly exalted above all mankind; for he is Im- 
manuel, the only-begotten Son of the eternal Father. 
During his earthly life, he refrained from revealing 
the infinite fulness of the glory of his eternal godhood. 
His sole purpose was to do the will of the Father by 
fulfilling all the law and the prophets in saving and re- 
deeming his people. To accomplish this and make 
atonement for men, Christ, anointed with fulness of the 
Holy Spirit, humbled himself in obedience to the will 
of God even unto death, the death of the cross, follow- 
ing upon his rejection and repudiation by the house of 
Israel. Different from the attitude of the Jews as a na- 
tion, was the bearing of many individuals of that peo- 
ple. A number of believing men and women received 
and worshiped Jesus as the Messiah of God and Savior 
of their souls. "But as many as received him, to them 
gave he the right to become children of God, even to 
them that believe on his name."*" 

When Christ had ascended to heaven, he sent the 
Comforter the Holy Spirit to give new spiritual life 
unto his followers. The Spirit of God came to open 
the sealed door of the soul for the kingdom of heaven^ 
to implant the image of Christ into each believer, and 
thus to dwell in the heart of faithful ones. Constantly 
more and more people became persuaded and convinced 
of the Messiahship of Christ; so that within a few de- 
cades after his ascension, Christians in large numbers 
existed throughout a great part of the then known 
world. This period presents the facts of the beginning 
and early development of Christ's kingdom of grace, 
the Church. Being reborn of the Spirit of God, the 



46 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

members of the Church constitute the holy people of 
God. 

The life and character of Christians are best exem- 
plified by the Apostles of the Lord and others of his 
close disciples. They typify the followers of Christ. 
What a blessed life they lived! How true was their 
faith, love, and hope! Today yet, their light shines 
brightly before the whole world. The earliest Chris- 
tians are exemplary to all later times ; for they were 
the first chosen and enjoyed in richest measure the 
grace of God, even apart from the special gifts of the 
Holy Spirit. What things are recorded of the various 
persons that accepted Christ, are such as indicate the 
course of life of Christian people, the faithful as well 
as unfaithful ones, the steadfast as well as the repro- 
bate. Unto all, God manifested his mercy; upon all, 
he poured out his grace. They who treasured his 
grace, were sustained in faith till their end; but they 
who despised his mercy, were warned of God's wrath 
to come. "And this is the judgment that the light is 
come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather 
than the light ; for their works were evil."" But every 
faithful hearer and doer of the Word is "likened unto 
a wise man which built his house upon the rock."*^ 
How precious the peace of divine forgiveness is and 
how abiding the joy of spiritual life, that is amply ex- 
hibited in what Holy Scripture relates of the early fol- 
lowers of Christ. Since the close of the Apostolic pe- 
riod, the Church has lived on under the guidance of 
God according to his Word : Christian people will con- 
tinue on earth, till Christ appears in his heavenly glory ; 
for Jesus says, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto 
the end of the world,"" 



THE GROUNDS OF THE AUTHORITY. 47 

Scriptural history records the events and facts of the 
preparation and rise of the kingdom of Christ, reflect- 
ing especially the beauty of its dawn ; Scripture further 
reveals the complex causes that make and influence his- 
tory; and Scripture also supplies the examples from 
life, which illustrate the doctrines and precepts of God. 
Therefore doctrine and history, each in its own way, 
embody divine authority in matters of Christian faith 
and life. The historical information of Scripture 
which for all times carries with it the greatest weight, 
consists of such salient facts as present the spiritual at- 
titude of men, the consequences of good aims and evil 
ones, and the final causes of history determined by the 
plans of God. 

3. — Prophetical Contents. 

Most vitally significant of all the contents of Scrip- 
ture is prophecy. Divine prophecy is an outline of 
what God has in store for the future. Prophetical ut- 
terances are found throughout the Word of God, like 
jewels strewn in precious ground or imbedded in strata 
of rock. In doctrinal and historical books of Scrip- 
ture, the prophecy that occurs is just as pure as that 
given in books specifically prophetical, where it appears 
in richest and fullest measure. 

What God intended to do, he previously made known 
by his servants. Thus God asks: "Shall I hide from 
Abraham that thing which I do ; seeing that Abraham 
shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all 
the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?"" 
By Isaiah, the Lord remarks, ''Behold; the former 
things are come to pass, and new things do I declare : 
before they spring forth I tell you of them;"*^ and 



48 - THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

again, "I have declared the former things from the be- 
ginning ; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I 
showed them ; I did them suddenly, and they came to 
pass."*^ Very emphatic is what Amos declares : "Sure- 
ly the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his 
secret unto his servants the prophets."" The Revela- 
tion of St. John teaches: "These words are faithful 
and true: and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the 
prophets, sent his angel to show unto his servants the 
things which must shortly come to pass.'"** 

Prophecy sustains both the doctrine and history 
given in Scripture. The prophetical statements of the 
Old Testament anticipate the fuller presentation of the 
doctrines of redemption as given in the New ; also the 
New Testament prophecies imply the necessity of 
maintaining purity and soundness of doctrine, because 
the development of God's kingdom is conditioned upon 
teachings given hundreds and thousands of years be- 
fore. In reference to impending historical events, it 
is the prophetical utterances of both prophets and 
apostles, which are strongest evidence that the course 
of history is not only known to God in advance, but 
is also directed by his hand in such a manner as to as- 
sure the working out in detail of his eternal plans. 
"Remember the former things of old: for I am God, 
and there is none else; I am God, and there is none 
like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and 
from ancient times the things that are not yet done, 
saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my 
pleasure."*^ 

The style of language in which prophecies are pre- 
sented is to a considerable extent symbolical. For in- 



THE GROUNDS OF THE AUTHORITY. 49 

stance, Jeremiah, presenting Judah by the symbol of 
two baskets of figs, one with very good figs, the other 
with very bad ones, shows thereby what was the char- 
acter, from God's viewpoint, of the Jews pining in cap- 
tivity as well as of those reveling at Jerusalem. 
Christ, when speaking of his death, used the three days' 
stay of Jonah in the fish as a symbolical sign for the 
stay in the sepulchre. In the Book of Revelation, 
much symbolical language is used; for example, such 
as this : "I saw seven golden candlesticks ; and in the 
midst of the candlesticks one like unto the Son of man 
. . . And he had in his right hand seven stars : and 
out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged 
sword.'""* Where Scripture itself explains the mean- 
ing of symbols used, they are plain enough; others 
will no doubt become more precisely understood as the 
history of the Church progresses. 

At the time foreseen and set by the Lord, occurs the 
fulfillment of prophecies. Indication of the exact time 
of fulfillment, however, is mostly withheld. The 
prophets themselves but seldom apprehended at what 
appointed time their prophecies were to eventuate. St. 
Peter distinctly declares: "The prophets sought and 
searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that 
should come unto you : searching what time or what 
manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them 
did point unto, when it testified beforehand the suffer- 
ings of Christ, and the glories that should follow 
them."" Still, there are sufficient distinguishing marks 
specified in every prophecy, which enable men to know 
and see, when promises of God, in their respective or- 
der, become fulfilled. 



50 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

The various kinds of prophecy are given either in 
form of promises, or in form of visions, or again, as 
announcements to individuals and nations. Many are 
the instances that illustrate how God gave promises to 
individuals. Among such persons are Adam and Eve, 
Abraham, Jacob, and David. Of the nations, to whom 
special announcements were made, the covenant people 
of Israel received by far the most important prophe- 
cies ; theirs were the great promises of salvation. But 
also the nations with whom the Israelites came in con- 
tact, had divers prophecies made concerning them. 

That element of prophetic Scripture, which above 
every other proves Holy Scripture a living book, is 
the prophecy of the Redeemer and his kingdom. From 
the beginning to the end of the Bible in every form of 
prophecy, it pervades the sacred pages. As the revela- 
tions of God proceeded, this prophecy increased in viv- 
idness. In general, prophecy is for' all eras of history. 
Far from having spent its significance, the entire world 
is yet to see the final, the crowning fulfillments of di- 
vine revelation. Those opposed to the kingdom and 
will of God, can do less to stay the onward course of 
fulfillment than a child can do to stay the tide of oceans. 
As a matter of fact, prophecy is even today in course 
of being fulfilled; for, every moment of the day of 
grace marks the forward movements of the kingdom of 
Christ. And the Church can live and progress only 
as the Lord directs and guides every generation of her 
members, which he ever does by means of the Word 
in the ways prophesied in Scripture. The decay of the 
dominion of Satan and the growth of the kingdom of 
Christ are distinctly foreshadowed in the prophecies 



THE GROUNDS OF THE AUTHORITY. 5I 

of God's Word. All eyes in heaven and on earth look 
as longingly for the second coming of Christ, as the 
true Israelites of old yearned for his first appearance. 
In the appointed day, at the moment foreordained, the 
glorious and awful fulfillment of all prophecy will take 
place, to the utter dismay of the lost and the unspeak- 
able joy of the saved among mankind. Then prophecy 
will have found its perfect, heavenly realization. 

For the authenticity of the Word of God, all proph- 
ecies give irrefutable proof and evidence. And those 
already fulfilled, vouch for the fulfillment of the re- 
maining ones also. Of all the Scripture contents, 
prophecy most excellently vindicates itself as well as 
the entire Word. 

It is obvious, in summary, that the deep, true, and 
abiding ground of the authority of the Word consists 
of the inspired doctrine, history, and prophecy inter- 
woven into one grand divine fabric of thought by the 
Spirit of God. This ground, the contents of Scrip- 
ture, will remain as long as the Word of God exists; 
that is, unto the end of the world, according to the 
words of Christ. For people on earth, the authority of 
the only true and great and eternal God has found full 
and complete expression solely in the information per- 
petuated by the recorded Word of God. 



III. 



®Ij^ lE,BBttitt 0f % Autlfnrttg: ©rutif 

Preliminary Remarks. 

TRUTH is the essence of the authority of the Word 
of God. The Word is authoritative by reason of 
its truthful correspondence to the things of which it 
speaks. Hence, the divine authority of the Word is 
both rightful and truthful ; for, Scripture is of author- 
ity not only because God, who inspired it, is rightfully 
exalted in sovereign majesty over earth and heaven; 
but also because of the inherent, essential truth of its 
contents. Ultimately, the authority of Scripture de- 
pends upon the omniscience and truthfulness of God; 
for he is the Author of Scripture. It is the truthful- 
ness of God, which guarantees the truth of the sub- 
ject-matter of the inspired Word. Being true in sub- 
stance, form, and method, the Word of God is rightly 
termed the Word of truth. 

As to the omniscience of God, abundant testimony 
obtains. "O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known 
me," David affirms. "Thou knowest my downsitting 
and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar 
off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, 
and art acquainted with all my ways."^ One of the 
clearest passages is the one in the Epistle to the He- 
brews, which says that the Word of God is a discerner 

53 



54 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

of the thoughts and intents of the heart, and that 
"there is no creature that is not manifest in his sight 
but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes 
of him with whom we have to do.'"' St. John testifies, 
"God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all 
things.'" Of Jesus, St. Matthew writes : "Jesus know- 
ing their thoughts said. Wherefore think ye evil in 
your hearts ?"* St. John also describes the meeting of 
Jesus and Nathanael, saying: "Jesus saw Nathanael 
coming to him, and saith of him, ^ehold, an Israelite 
indeed, in whom is no guile ! Nathanael saith unto 
him. Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and 
saith unto him, Before Philip called thee, when thou 
wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answer- 
ed him. Rabbi, thou art the Son of God ; thou art Kin^ 
of Israel."^ All the Apostles at another time said to 
Christ : "Now know we that thou knowest all things, 
and needest not that any man should ask thee."^ There 
are also specific statements showing that the Holy 
Spirit, likewise, searches and knows all things. Thus 
it was prophesied of his relation to the Savior: "The 
Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of 
wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and 
might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the 
Lord."^ And, speaking of the things which have not 
entered into man's heart, St. Paul declares : "But unto 
us God revealed them through the Spirit : for the Spirit 
searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."* 
Since God, then, and God alone, being omniscient, has 
perfect knowledge of all things, therefore he alone is 
able to speak with perfect authority concerning all 
things that refer to creation, redemption, and sanctifi- 
cation. 



THE ESSENCE OF THE AUTHORITY. 55 

Moreover, besides rejoicing to know that God is om- 
niscient, the true believer exults in the fact that God's 
holy love of truth is the eternal rock and invincible bul- 
wark of the kingdom of heaven. For of Him, the high 
and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, Scripture says : 
"He is the Rock, his work is perfect : for all his ways 
are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, 
just and right is he."^ Further Scripture testifies: 
"Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne : 
mercy and truth shall go before thy face.'"" And still 
further, "His truth endureth to all generations."" And 
again : "Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord 
God, the Almighty; righteous and true are thy ways, 
thou King of the ages."^^ St. John writes: "If we 
receive the witness of men, the witness of God is 
greater: for the witness of God is this that he hath 
borne witness concerning his Son. He that believeth 
on the Son of God hath the witness in him : he that be- 
lieveth not God hath made him a liar ; because he hath 
not believed in the witness that God hath borne con- 
cerning his Son."" Christ expressly declares, "He that 
sent me is true."" And God's truthfulness is irrefuta- 
bly taught, too, by the passage: "The Son of God 
is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we 
know him that is true, and we are in him that 
is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is 
the true God."^^ Perfect truthfulness is justly 
ascribed also to Christ; thus the prophet says: "In 
mercy shall the throne be established : and he shall sit 
upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David."" Ac- 
cordingly the Savior answered Pilate : "Thou sayest 
that I am a king. To this end have I been born and 



56 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

to this end am I come into the world, that I should 
bear witness unto the truth/'" What is true of God the 
Father and God the Son is true of God the Holy Spirit ; 
for, Jesus told his disciples : 'When he, the Spirit of 
truth is come, he shall guide you into all the truth."** 
In like words, St. John writes : "It is the Spirit that 
beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth."" 

Therefore it must be concluded that the Triune God, 
enthroned in heavenly places of everlasting life and 
light and ruling over all that he has made, is sover- 
eignly qualified, by reason of his omniscience and truth- 
fulness, to teach the true relations, facts, and destiny 
of all things in his great kingdom, including all man- 
kind. And if ever there is any contradiction between 
what God says and what man may say, then there ap- 
plies the remark from St. Paul: "Let God be found 
true, but every man a liar; as it is written. That thou 
mightest be justified in thy words, and mightest pre- 
vail when thou comest into judgment."** Because, "It 
is impossible for God to lie."^^ Knowing that God had 
determined to give to the world knowledge and under- 
standing of truth divine, therefore Jesus assured his dis- 
ciples of the grand fact : "Ye shall know the truth."^ 

I. — ^Truth in Substance. 

The term truth as used in Scripture applies to the 
contents of the written Word of God; for it is this 
Word, which was given by divine inspiration. The 
Holy Spirit explicitly led the Apostles of the Lord 
into the knowledge of the truth and inspired them to 
write it in Holy Scripture. Christ himself terms the 
Word of God the truth, when he beseeches the Father, 



THE ESSENCE OF THE AUTHORITY. 57 

"Sanctify them in the truth: thy Word is truth.'"' 
Quite frequently, Scripture refers to the Word simply 
as the Word of truth. Self-evidently, therefore, the in- 
spired Word is the truth. It is for this "Word of 
truth," that believers do ever long and yearn : it alone 
truly answers the question, What is truth ? Thus Da- 
vid implores God: "O send out thy light and thy 
truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy 
holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto 
the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy."** 

Scripture is the essential, consistent, living truth 
which God by inspiration of the Holy Spirit has given 
unto men. The very nature of the contents of Scrip- 
ture is essential truth, so far as it is the revealed and 
inspired testimony in regard to God, Christ, redemp- 
tion, and the kingdom of heaven. For the facts, prin- 
ciples, and matters of the spiritual kingdom of God 
are in themselves pure and perfect truth. As Jesus 
said, "The Holy Spirit shall lead you into all truth." 
Again, when Christ declares: "Search the scriptures, 
because ye think that in them ye have eternal life ; and 
these are they which bear witness of me,"^ he makes a 
distinct discrimination between the general contents of 
Scripture and the cardinal special contents interwoven 
with it. The special contents are the revealed testi- 
mony of Christ and eternal life through him ; the gen- 
eral contents are affairs of history as well as general 
doctrine and prophecy — of course, divine inspiration is 
what all the contents have in common. 

Words of Christ, like this, "I am the way, and the 
truth, and the life ; no one cometh unto the Father, but 
by me,"^ imply that truth is so essentially characteris- 



58 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

tic of his being and calling, that whatever the Holy 
Spirit reveals of him and his work of redemption, can- 
not but be divine eternal truth. For, the spiritual facts 
revealed are immutably true in themselves; they are, 
moreover, revealed and inspired by the Spirit of truth : 
the inspired testimony, too, is immutably true in itself. 
Such testimony is that, for instance, which St. John 
gives : "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among 
us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only be- 
gotten from the Father), full of grace and truth;"" 
again another Apostle writes : "In him dwelleth all the 
fulness of the Godhead bodily;'"^ and again, "This is 
the true GoJ and eternal life.'"' 

So also, whatevef the Holy Spirit witnessed of the 
kingdom of God and his righteousness, is pure essen- 
tial truth, because of the very nature of the informa- 
tion. Objectively, spiritual truth, as personified in 
God and existing in his kingdom, is eternal spiritual 
perfection of divine being and divine order. Subjec- 
tively, it is the inspired Word of their nature and rela- 
tions. "Thy righteousness," says the 119th Psalm, "is 
an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.'"" 
What is revealed in Scripture of divine spiritual 
things, enables men truthfully to apprehend the grace, 
beauty, and glory of the true God and his kingdom. 
"He that hath received his witness hath set his seal to 
this, that God is true."" Thus the nature of the con- 
tents of Scripture insures the inherent spiritual truth 
of the testimony of Christ and redemption, God and 
heaven. 

The Word of Scripture, besides being essential truth, 
is furthermore true, because of its consistency with the 



THE ESSENCE OF THE AUTHORITY. 59 

facts to which it makes reference. In the accurate con- 
sistency of statements with facts, the Word of God is 
altogether trustworthy throughout. For all statements 
made by Holy Scripture, whether of things spiritual 
or temporal, things past, present, or future, things hid- 
den or manifest — all its declarations and judgments 
of things are true to the actual state of affairs. The 
matters recorded in Scripture all have more or less di- 
rect bearing on the theme of redemption. The greatest 
and most vital fact of all truth made known unto men 
by Scripture is this : God the Father sent his Son to 
redeem unto eternal life men that believe. Around this 
central truth cluster all other truths of the Word of 
God. 

The primary truths of the Word speak of the mo- 
tive, manner, and purpose of redemption. Eternal love 
on the part of God is the true motive of the redemption. 
The life of Christ given in atonement of the sin of the 
world is its true manner. Everlasting life for every 
faithful believer, its true purpose. These truths find 
expression throughout the Scriptures, as, for instance, 
in the beautiful words : "God so loved the world, that 
he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believ- 
eth on him should not perish, but have everlasting 
life."^^ Like these fundamental truths, the whole body 
and substance of inspired truth in adequate fulness 
brings out consistently the real facts connected with 
the redemption wrought by God. In the days of the 
preparation of redemption, all things in doctrine, his- 
tory, and prophecy anticipated the more complete pres- 
entation of saving truth in the day of Christ. The 
fact of redemption remains the supreme truth of the 



6o THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

ages. With Christ and his Apostles, the truth of re- 
demption received its full and final presentation. 

Accordingly, then, all doctrinal statements are in true 
harmony with the facts concerned. Doctrines that 
serve to give expression to the will of God, or that 
speak of the working of his heavenly grace, or that 
treat of his wrath towards children of disobedience, or 
that in any way refer to the being, counsel, and king- 
dom of God, — such doctrines are certainly true in every 
respect to the facts. The same is true in regard to what 
Scripture asserts about human sin with its consequent 
death and eternal damnation ; as well as what it teaches 
of the forgiveness of sin, regeneration, and eternal 
salvation. And also the statements concerning Satan 
and hell are nothing but a precise, fair, and true presen- 
tation regarding the kingdom of darkness. For God 
who is omniscient and true, has testified these things 
through his servants. So the Palmist declares of the 
doctrines of God : "Thy testimonies are very sure ;"*^ 
and again, "All thy commandments are truth."** 

Historical matters are presented with an equal fidel- 
ity to facts. The true causes of events are faithfully 
brought to light by the Scriptural accounts. The mo- 
tives that are mentioned as having prompted the re- 
corded actions of men, and the plans and designs con- 
nected with them, are accurately shown. Moreover, 
Scripture in a clear and true way describes the majes- 
tic ways of God in his dealings with man: it truly 
proves that God is the One who builds human destiny ; 
and the course of history brings into strong and grand 
relief the divine plan of redemption. Indeed, the whole 
description of that building of human destiny — a. 



THE ESSENCE OF THE AUTHORITY. 6l 

building resting securely on the eternal foundation 
of God's plans, fitly framed together in its construction 
during the centuries, and rising upward to the ever 
more manifest glory of God: that description, the in- 
spired record, is the truest and most adequately con- 
sistent account of the history of mankind. The things 
which God inspired concerning the deeper causes and 
attending circumstances of any event, are a perfectly 
correct statement of that event. The causative factors 
are of most vital moment in occurrences, because they 
serve instructively to explain the effects which in their 
various relations constitute history. 

Matters of chronology, being subordinate in import- 
ance to the events themselves, received sufficient atten- 
tion in the inspired Word to show truthfully the order 
and connection of the facts of redemption. Though 
chronology is subordinate, still Scripture amply enough 
testifies that God determines and therefore even be- 
forehand knows the day as well as the hour when his 
works are performed, the length of life alotted to each 
person, and the true time and duration of the epochs 
of earthly history. From the viewpoint of redemption, 
Scripture has given enough consideration to chro- 
nology without thereby diverting attention from the 
general aim: redemption. God's omniscience and 
truthfulness are perfect also in this regard; hence, 
Jesus also said unto the disciples : "It is not for you to 
know times or seasons, which the Father hath set with- 
in his own authority."^ The same is true of statistics, 
which usually are given but in a general way. Though 
round numbers are oftener found than precise ones, 
it must not be inferred that God had no precise know!- 



62 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

edge of the facts. The truth in such matters is that 
God made known the things that are to be known : he 
who has numbered the hairs on human heads could 
easily have supplied exhaustive information in regard 
to such matters, if in his wisdom he had seen it desir- 
able to do so. 

What God did make truly known, is: "He hath 
showed his people the power of his work, that he may 
give them the heritage of the heathen. The works of 
his hands are verity and judgment; all his command- 
ments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and 
are done in truth and uprightness."'* St. Peter re- 
marks : "I shall be ready always to put you in remem- 
brance of these things, though ye know them, and are 
established in the truth which is with you. For we did 
not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made 
known unto you the power and coming of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his ma- 
jesty."" Therefore Scriptural history is the perfectly 
consistent truth of historical facts. 

The truth of Scriptural prophecy is as evident as the 
truth of its doctrinal and historical matters. Prophecy 
gives a true and consistent outline of the facts of an 
event, before the time of its occurrence is at hand. By 
the fulfillment of prophecy in accordance with the 
words foretold, clearest proof is furnished for the fact 
that God with certainty knows all things. Though di- 
vine promises may stand so long a time before being 
fulfilled, that one might ask, "Lord, where are thy 
former loving kindnesses, which thou swarest unto Da- 
vid in thy truth P""^ nevertheless, because of the immu- 
table truth of prophecy, one may confidently say: "O 



THE ESSENCE OF THE AUTHORITY. 63 

Lord God, thou art that God, and thy words be true, 
and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy ser- 
vant.'"' Consequently, the prophecies of Holy Scrip- 
ture are thoroughly consistent with the facts at issue, 
and are therefore true. 

In addition to being essential and consistent truth, 
the Word of God is also living truth. As Christ says, 
"The words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and 
are life."*" Scripture truth has the power to reproduce 
within human souls true spiritual life in accordance 
with the divine type, Jesus Christ. It is in the Word 
itself that this power of spiritual truth dwells and in- 
heres. It is not merely various experiences of bygone 
ages and life as it was lived in the past, which are 
presented by the Word for the instruction of believers, 
but eternal vital truths are perpetuated therein. For, the 
day of salvation is still with men and the fountain 
of grace is open and accessible through the means of 
grace. Therefore, spiritual power and gifts are truly 
communicated by the Holy Spirit to them that believ- 
ingly keep the Word. Because, "The Word of God is 
living and active."*^ Again, when Jesus declares, 
"This is life eternal, that they should know thee the 
only true God, and him whom thou didst send, even 
Jesus Christ,"*^ it is obvious that the knowledge of God 
given by Holy Scripture is ever quickening in its ef- 
fect. The Word of God will go on in its course among 
men as the living truth, until the whole counsel of re- 
demption has been fulfilled. Well does the Psalmist 
pray, "Lead me in thy truth and teach: for thou art 
the God of my salvation."*^ Again David says 
"Teach me thy way, O Lord ; I will walk in thy truth : 
unite my heart to fear thy name."** 



64 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

From what precedes, it is conclusive that the sub- 
stance or subject matter of Scripture is essential, con- 
sistent, living truth. And so long as the Word of God 
remains the truth which it is, even that long its au- 
thority is invincibly established. This divine inspired 
truth, the soul may calmly and confidently accept; it 
will faithfully guide one to Christ, the divine way and 
personified truth and eternal life. 

2. — Truth in Form. 

As to logical form, the Word of Scripture is true 
and consistent. For simplicity of presentation, divine 
truth is as remarkable as for profundity of substance. 
So that, however deep Scripture is by reason of its 
contents, the simplest mind, when enlightened by the 
the Holy Spirit, can rightly apprehend the thoughts 
presented, because of the clear and plain terms, state- 
ments, and arguments. 

Holy Scripture, in its terminology, is true to the ob- 
jects denoted. This is particularly observable in the 
formation of words in the original languages of the 
Word of God ; but in effect, it applies also to the 
translations of Scripture. Terms that, for instance, 
denote God, as Jehovah, Immanuel, Jesus, are so cor- 
rectly formed and so true to the idea to be expressed, 
that no terms could be more correct in form of con- 
struction and definiteness of meaning than those of 
Scripture. Other objects and matters are designated 
by equally accurate terms, many words used in Scrip- 
ture having received an entirely new signification by 
the divine inspiration. Since he has absolutely perfect 
apprehension of all things, God denoted them by names 



THE ESSENCE OF THE AUTHORITY. 65 

expressive of the real nature of the things. God knows 
by name all that he has made ; as Isaiah declares with 
reference to the host of stars: "He calleth them all 
by names by the greatness of his might."** And Scrip- 
ture says of Jesus, "He calleth his own sheep by 
name."** In the Revelation, St. John writes what Jesus 
promised : "I will give him a white stone, and upon 
the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth 
but he that receiveth it."*' All terms and words of 
Scripture, being its component parts, owe their place 
and meaning in the Word of God to the inspiration by 
the Holy Spirit. 

The propositions of Scripture truthfully express the 
thought or idea to be conveyed. This applies not mere- 
ly to indicative propositions, but to the various kinds 
of logical statements. The use of the divers proposi- 
tions is manifold. Imperative statements expressing 
the will of God, for example, do not simply state laws 
and principles of God's kingdom, but also make ob- 
ligatory the compliance with them on the part of hear- 
ers. Scripture records judgments of all maruaer of 
people to show how men think and judge. But above 
all it correctly, consistently states the thoughts of the 
infallible mind of God concerning things of human life 
as well as the spiritual kingdom. And propositions are 
true, when they in consistent logical form express true 
acts of judgment. Moreover, the statements of Scrip- 
ture must be true on account of its attitude ; for, it can 
not do what it condemns in others when it says : "Woe 
unto them that call evil good and good evil; 
that put darkness for light, and light for dark- 
ness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for 



66 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

bitter."** Besides, it is explicitly stated of the 
Word: "The judgments of the Lord are true and 
righteous altogether. More to be desired are they 
than gold."*' And God himself says: "A law shall 
proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest 
for a light of the people."^" Having been inspired by 
the Holy Spirit, the propositions of Scripture are in- 
fallibly true. 

Founded on correct and true antecedent judgments, 
the argumentation of Scripture is obviously perfect in 
truth. Comparative consistency of propositions, which 
is the vital requirement of formal truth, prevails 
throughout Holy Scripture. Therefore, the reasoning 
of Scripture is firm as a rock, clear as a light, and en- 
durable as heaven: its conclusions follow with inevit- 
able certainty from their respective premises. As 
syllogistic precision of form, which scarcely ever oc- 
curs in any discourse, is not requisite to perfect con- 
sistency of propositions, so also logical exhaustiveness 
of argument need not be carried beyond the purpose in 
view in order to assure the truth of whatever informa- 
tion is consistently elicited ; in this respect, too, Scrip- 
ture reasoning exhibits true form. The Word of God, 
further, is no less remarkable for wealth of argumen- 
tation than for its richness of figurative language. And 
the unrivaled strength of Scriptural truth consists in 
the perfect manner in which its statements are brought 
to the proper conclusions. So that men may learn 
from Scripture properly to apply to themselves and 
their environment the eternal principles of the king- 
dom of God, and also to guard themselves against de- 
ceptive principles and erroneous inferences : the Word 



THE ESSENCE OF THE AUTHORITY. ^'J 

of truth is the only safeguard against fallacy and 
error. Indeed, "Every Scripture inspired of Gk)d is 
also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, 
for instruction which is in righteousness : that the man 
of God may be complete, furnished completely unto 
every good work/'" The argumentation of Scripture, 
which the Holy Spirit inspired complete in terms, 
premises, and reasoning, is manifestly true and final 
and infallible. 

Being consistent and true in form as well as sub- 
stance. Scripture logically is the Word of truth. This 
Word cannot be altered by men, because both sub- 
stance and form, the internal and the external Word, 
have been received through inspiration by the Spirit 
of God. Holy Scripture teaches authoritative, immu- 
table, eternal truth. 

3. — Truth in Method. 

The Scripture method of presenting truth unfolds 
progressively the plan of redemption. That plan de- 
termined the growth of the revelation and inspiration 
of divine truth. On the basis of the eternal plan, the 
unfolding of truth proceeded in accordance with defi- 
nite laws and principles. Development of truth does 
not evolve and determine plan and laws, but the plan 
and laws are made to produce and determine the devel- 
opment: "God worketh all things after the counsel 
of his will."" This thought is maintained throughout 
Holy Scripture: as, for instance, by Isaiah: "The 
Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it ? 
and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it 
back?"" In the spiritual kingdom as in the natural 



68 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

world, God's plan determines all laws of growth and 
development, everything has its season, period, and 
properties from him, and by him all things are upheld 
and sustained according to his will, within their more 
or less strictly set limits of existence: hence, a lily is 
a lily; an eagle, an eagle; a star, a star; and even of 
man as regards his ways of thinking, Scripture says, 
"This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which 
is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working;"" 
but most evident of all, divine truth is and remains di- 
vine truth, because it is revealed and inspired of God 
in wonderful sequence. Temporal conditions and exi- 
gencies did not and could not produce the truth ; they 
were simply the foreseen occasions, when the truths 
of redemption were to be revealed. Thus having de- 
livered the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, God re- 
vealed himself in their sight and taught them his great 
laws, saying: "I am the Lord, thy God, which have 
brought thee out of the land of Egypt."" 

Indeed everything connected with the promulgation 
of divine truth concerning redemption, was ordered 
and timed by God. This may be seen from what Dan- 
iel was told: "Seventy weeks are determined upon 
thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the trans- 
gression, and to make an end of sins, and to make 
reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting 
righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, 
and to anoint the most Holy.""" Neither can any acci- 
dents interfere with God's plans; he foresaw every- 
thing. Whatever opposed the truth, was overcome or 
overruled : men "can do nothing against the truth, but 
for the truth ;"" because, God is "great in counsel, and 



THE ESSENCE OF THE AUTHORITY. 69 

mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the 
ways of the sons of men : to give every one according 
to his ways, and according to the fruit of his 
doing/"^ Moreover God's plan and counsel is 
permanent and immutable ; the writer to the Hebrews, 
namely, says : "God, being minded to show more 
abundantly unto the heirs of the promise the immut- 
bility of his counsel, interposed with an oath : that by 
two immutable things, in which it is impossible for 
God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who 
have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before 
us.'""* 

By degrees, the true information of God and his 
kingdom was given at various epochs in the history of 
mankind. In the ages preceding the day of redemption, 
only such truth was revealed as is preparatory to the 
work of redemption. Afterwards, in the day of grace, 
all the fullness of truth was unfolded. As St. Paul says : 
"By revelation was made known unto me the mystery 

. . . which in other generations was not made 
known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been re- 
vealed unto his holy apostles and prophets in the 
Spirit;""" the reason for this gradual revelation being 
"to the intent," he says, "that now unto the principali- 
ties and powers in the heavenly places might be made 
known through the church the manifold wisdom of 
God."" 

It must be observed, also, that identical truths are 
oftentimes inspired to various writers; thereby truths 
are presented in divers connections and in manifold 
relations. Furthermore, a writer sometimes speaks of 
certain truths in more than one of his writings. But, 



70 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

whatever truth or doctrine is thus frequently and va- 
riously stated, becomes the better known in all its com- 
pleteness and its vital relation to other truths. Con- 
sequently, as silver and gold pervade the ore contain- 
ing it, so divine truth in richest abundance fills the in- 
spired pages; for, even human events are made to il- 
lustrate spiritual truths. 

Truth in general concerns God and his kingdom. 
Truth in a specific sense refers to redemption by faith 
in the atoning death and the resurrection of Jesus 
Christ. Truth in particular concerns the doctrines 
which collectively form the sum of revealed and in- 
spired information. 

All divine truth having been successively made 
known by degrees, has been presented by a perfectly 
true method. For this method was ever progressive 
in depth and range of knowledge, it was opportune to 
time and needs, and was productive of true results. 
Many centuries, in fact, passed by, before the truth 
was finally and fully made known. But that does not 
in any way detract from the perfectness of the method 
of presentation ; it rather emphasizes the completeness 
and maturity of the truth. 

The method by which truth was inspired and the 
manner in which it accordingly is contained in Holy 
Scripture, determines the mode in which the truth is to 
be found and proved. Truth exists in Scripture not 
as a classified science, but in the order as the revela- 
tions, facts, and events themselves occurred and were 
inspired. "Which things also we speak, not in words 
which man's wisdom teacheth ; but which the Spirit 
teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual."" 



THE ESSENCE OF THE AUTHORITY. 7I 

Particular truths being frequently expressed in a 
number of books of various inspired writers, the 
true method of teaching complete Scriptural truths 
consists in gathering and collating from all such 
writings the respective statements of whatever 
doctrine is to be established. This method is the 
one followed by the Lord Jesus and the writers 
of Scripture. By Scripture, it is called the rule or 
analogy of faith; and it denotes the statements and 
teaching of the Prophets, of Christ, and the Apostles 
as contained in the inspired Word. 

The key for complete and irrefutable statement of 
truth in doctrinal form is contained in the word: 
"Search the Scriptures, because ye think that in them 
ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear 
witness of me.""^ By searching the Scriptures is meant 
to note and examine identical statements and facts in 
order to determine the precise teaching concerning 
truths to be learned from the Word of God. Moreover, 
the analogy of faith on the one hand implies every part 
of Scripture to be consistent with the other parts. And 
on the other hand it requires that every teaching de- 
rived from Scripture must be consistent with all Scrip- 
ture passages bearing on that doctrine. Now, while 
many single passages are in themselves clear enough 
to give distinct expression to their inherent teaching, 
yet complete demonstration of doctrine necessitates a 
sufficient number of passages to be adduced that show 
conclusively the essence of all relevant Scriptural state- 
ments on the subject or matter in hand. Interpreta- 
tion of Scripture indeed requires that texts and pas- 
sages be treated one by one ; but complete proof of doc- 



'J2 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

trines requires that an adequate number of texts and 
passages be cited, whose combined testimony is thor- 
oughly conclusive. 

Besides the already quoted verse, "Search the Scrip- 
tures," many other passages speak of the method of 
finding and establishing the truth. Thus God instruct- 
ed Joshua to make the Word his norm and rule : "Ob- 
serve to do according to all the law which Moses my 
servant commanded thee : turn not from it to the right 
hand or to the left.""^ Psalm 119 declares : "Thy word 
is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."*" 
Isaiah avsks, "Should not a people seek unto their God? 
for the living to the dead ? To the law and to the testi- 
mony: if they speak not according to this word, it is 
because there is no light in them."** Again he writes, 
"Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read : no one 
of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my 
mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gath- 
ered them.""^ To the disciples of Emmaus, Jesus spoke 
as follows : "Behoved it not the Christ to suffer these 
things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning 
from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted 
to them in all the scriptures the things concerning him- 
self."*^ Precisely the same way, he convinced and re- 
assured the Apostles : "These are my words which I 
spake unto you, while I was yet with you, how that all 
things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in 
the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, 
concerning me. Then opened he their mind, that they 
might understand the scriptures."** St. Paul, speaking 
to the Romans about true prophesying, says : "Let 
us prophesy according to the proportion of our 



THE ESSENCE OF THE AUTHORITY. 73 

faith."" At another place in the same Epistle, he 
writes : "To him that is able to stablish you according 
to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, ac- 
cording to the revelation of the mystery which hath 
been kept in silence through times eternal, but now is 
manifested, and by the scriptures of the prophets, ac- 
cording to the commandment of the eternal God, is 
made known unto all nations unto obedience of faith; 
to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom 
be the glory for ever.'"^ Furthermore, he tells the 
Galatians : "As we have said before, so say I now 
again. If any man preacheth unto you any gospel other 
than that which ye received, let him be anathema."" 
And he exhorts the Philippians : "Let us therefore, as 
many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any- 
thing ye are otherwise minded, even this shall God re- 
veal unto you : only whereunto we have already at- 
tained, by that same rule let us walk."" One of the 
finest exemplifications of how to apply the rule or 
analogy of faith, is contained in the eleventh chapter 
of the Epistle to the Hebrews, where the nature of 
faith is established by reference to examples of be- 
lievers given in Holy Scripture. St. Peter, too, calls 
attention to the rule or proportion of faith, by saying: 
I stir up your sincere mind by putting you in remem- 
brance; that ye should remember the words which 
were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the com- 
mandment of the Lord and Savior through your 
apostles."^* Telling his readers to try the spirits, St. 
John reminds them: "He that knoweth God heareth 
us ; he who is not of God, heareth us not. By this we 
know the spirit of truth^ and the spirit of error."" St. 



74 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

Jude exhorts: "Beloved, remember ye the words 
which have been spoken before by the apostles of our 
Lord Jesus Christ."™ And Revelations concludes: 
"Blessed is he that keepeth the words of the prophecy 
of this book."" 

Proving doctrine by this rule or analogy of faith 
brings out Scriptural truth in completeness. For, 
combined passages which treat of the same doctrine 
enable inevitable conclusions to be drawn concerning 
such doctrine. The full and complete teaching regard- 
ing matters of faith and life may therefore be ascer- 
tained wherever judicious care is used in searching 
the Scriptures. Safely and conclusively, the results of 
this method exhibit what is Scriptural truth whether 
in a general, specific, or particular sense. Hence the 
Word is the authoritative standard and criterion of 
truth. Though a few statements or facts of one or 
another writing may seem inconsistent with relevant 
truths expressed in some other part of Scripture, nev- 
ertheless such statements or facts will after all be found 
truly consistent when rightly understood in the light of 
the Word. Again, it may be somewhat difficult pre- 
cisely to ascertain all the principles and rules pertain- 
ing to conditions and affairs of the kingdom of God on 
earth ; for instance, because certain exceptions at times 
exist alongside of various rules. But when the prin- 
ciples and rules have been accurately established, the 
exceptions to them also can be distinguished. With 
regard to such matter difficult to be understood, St. 
Peter observes : "Account that the long-suffering of 
our Lord is salvation ; even as our beloved brother Paul 
also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto 



THE ESSENCE OF THE AUTHORITY. 75 

you ; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these 
things ; wherein are some things hard to be understood, 
which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as they do 
also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction."^* 
It remains unquestionably true, that, if the Holy Spirit 
opens the understanding of men, they may correctly un- 
derstand the Scriptures. The Word of God will for- 
ever be found the truth, pure and perfect truth, by 
all whom the Spirit of God leads into the knowledge 
and understanding of spiritual things. "But we re- 
ceived, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which 
is of God; that we might know the things that are 
freely given to us by God."^" 

The Word of God, to summarize, is the Word of 
truth. Resting on the omniscience and truthfulness 
of God, its substance, form, and method are altogether 
true. The subject-matter as given in Scripture, corre- 
sponds to all things and facts at issue. As to form, the 
Word is logically true. By true method, the various 
books of Scripture promulgate the inspired truth. 
Therefore Holy Scripture in every way embodies the 
authority, with which God has endowed his Word. 
Pure truth constitutes the ever abiding essence of the 
eternal authority of God's Word. 



IV. 

Eift deal 0f tift Autlfortto: Supr^marg. 

Preliminary Remarks. 

THE goal set for the authority of the Word of 
God, is supremacy. God's Word in itself indeed 
is true supreme divine authority; but in its course on 
earth, this authority is being ever more widely recog- 
nized and acknowledged. In matters relevant to the 
kingdom of God, authoritative supremacy belongs 
only to the Word given by divine inspiration. Being 
the inspired truth. Holy Scripture is the riile and stand- 
ard of faith and life. As it is the only authoritative 
expression of matters concerning God and his king- 
dom, inspired Scripture is the only authoritative cri- 
terion of such matters. The Word truly teaches what 
is the revealed will of God. Solely the Word of God 
can bring the will of man to true obedience of faith 
according to the will of God. Therefore Holy Scrip- 
ture is the sovereign guide of the human conscience. 
All information, principles, and rules necessary to sal- 
vation, are abundantly given with great clearness and 
completeness. Things not given by divine inspiration, 
are altogether subordinate to the Word of Scripture. 
Though God ever led his Church through the course 
of centuries, he has given no further inspired Scrip- 
ture since the last of the witnesses of Christ ceased 
writing. 

t 77 



78 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

Christ's earthly kingdom depends on the Scrip- 
tures and grows in conformity with their teaching, for 
"the Scriptures must be fulfilled." Whatever contra- 
dicts Holy Scripture, is erroneous and has no authority 
from God. To contradict the Word of God in any 
part is to destroy the unity of faith. The plan of re- 
demption determines all true development of the 
Church ; and that plan has been revealed completely 
and finally through Christ and his Apostles as record- 
ed in Scripture. In the working out of his plan, God 
uses only his inspired Word as the authorized means 
of teaching the relevant truths and facts. The at- 
tendant guidance and providence, which God accords 
to the living Church, is truly consistent with the in- 
spired Word; and he affords such guidance only to 
them that hear and keep his Word. All men who 
would come to saving faith, must own and heed the 
authority of the Scriptures. "Verily, verily, I say un- 
to you," Christ affirms, "He that heareth my word, and 
believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and 
Cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of 
death into life."^ Abraham answered the rich man 
who wanted his brother to be warned by Lazarus : "If 
they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will 
they be persuaded, if one rise from the dead."' Christ 
declares again: "If ye believed Moses, ye would be- 
lieve me; for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not 
his writings, how shall ye believe my words?'" This 
in effect is what the Apostles realized vividly when they 
said : "Lord, to whom shall we go ? thou hast the words 
of eternal life."* And so all are admonished by Scrip- 
ture: "Receive with meekness the implanted word, 
which is able to save your souls,"" 



THE GOAL OF THE AUTHORITY. 79 

To Scripture belongs sole supremacy in matters of 
the kingdom of God on earth, because its authority is 
positive, sovereign, and permanent. Only the Scrip- 
ture supplies the inspired truth of spiritual things, 
whether considered purely in themselves or in connec- 
tion with the history which they determined. The 
Word of God alone of all earthly literature is sure to 
outlast the present order of heaven and earth. 

I. — Positive Supremacy. 

Supremacy belongs to the Word of God, because its 
authority is positive. The Word expresses the truths 
of the kingdom of God, presenting its light and life, 
its holiness, power, and glory. The knowledge which 
it furnishes, is essentially positive throughout. Af- 
firmation of truth is characteristic of the Word. This 
is pre-eminently discernible from the teaching of re- 
demption. Isaiah, among others, affirms : "How beau- 
tiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that 
bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; tliat 
bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salva- 
tion ; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth !"^ Christ, 
in truth, is the beautiful Savior and good Shepherd, 
who journeyed to and fro across the mountains of 
Judea, affirming the good tidings: "The time is ful- 
filled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, 
and believe in the gospel."' Where the way for the 
Redeemer is prepared by repentance, he brings eternal 
redemption and peace with God. That these are posi- 
tive truths is plainly to be seen from the words : "God 
commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while 
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more 



8o THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

then, being now justified by his blood, shall we be 
saved from the wrath of God through him. For if, 
while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God 
through the death of his Son, much more, being recon- 
ciled, shall we be saved by his life."* Therefore, on res- 
urrection day, Christ brought to his disciples the 
greeting : "Peace be unto you."" Because its truths are 
divinely positive, the Word of God affords faith, love, 
peace, joy, hope, and every spiritual virtue to all that 
hear and do the will of God, whose will Jesus loved 
to do. St. John, for instance, says: "We know and 
have believed the love which God hath in us. God is 
love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and 
God abideth in him."'" More or less closely connected 
with the tidings of redemption, all truths of Scripture 
contribute their share of testimony concerning the 
great affirmative spirit of the kingdom of God. 

Things, however, which are the necessary negative 
of the pure truth of God, are essential negation. Sin, 
which needs to be taken away ; the world, which must 
be denied ; the works of the Devil, which must be de- 
stroyed: are things which constitute the essential an- 
tithesis of all that is righteous, true, and divine. There- 
fore, while the kingdom of light is positive in nature 
of being, the kingdom of darkness is negative in 
character. Accordingly, the Word of Scripture gives 
expression to facts and truths that are purely and per- 
fectly positive. The authority grounded therein, is 
likewise positive. 

Scripture again is positive in the sense that it fur- 
nishes certain and definite information. The Word 
of God is not a system of knowledge founded upon 



THE GOAL OF THE AUTHORITY. 8l 

presuppositions, assumptions, and hypotheses. It 
simply is straightforward and direct testimony of 
truths and facts fully and completely known to God 
who inspired them. Christ for that reason says to 
Nicodemus : "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak 
that we do know, and bear witness of that we have 
seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I told you 
earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, 
if I tell you heavenly things?"" Whatever knowledge 
is perfectly known, need but be definitely taught and 
testified. Since Scripture testimony is positively true, 
even with regard to what it says of the future, there- 
fore its authority abides supreme. It will always be in 
advance of the times, till all things are fulfilled. 

Moreover, since Holy Scripture presents truth as 
inspired by the Spirit of God, its information is ab- 
solutely trutsworthy and correct. In this respect, 
also, the Word is positive. Scripture is uncompro- 
mising regarding its statements, because it is infallible. 
The constitution, nature, and spirit of the heavenly 
kingdom; the immutable plan and counsel of God; 
and the divine inspiration of the Word, — conclu- 
sively determine the contents and attitude of Holy 
Scripture. God's Word serves one sublime object: 
to make known divine truth. St. Paul, therefore, de- 
clares of himself and his coworkers: "We are not as 
the many, corrupting the word of God : but as of sin- 
cerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, speak we in 
Christ."" It is obvious the Word of God to be true to 
itself, true to its origin, and true to the work it is to 
accomplish, cannot countenance even the least com- 
promise of the positive position of divine truth. For, 



82 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

the work of atonement is finished. The counsel of 
God stands secure. Spiritual truth is immutable. 
Scripture as a matter of fact is positive in position far 
above all compromising of the eternal truth. All that 
the world is asked to do, is to hear and accept the 
Word. Isaiah exclaims, "Hear, O heavens, and give 
ear, O earth : for the Lord hath spoken."" Like him, 
Jeremiah pleads: "O earth, earth, earth, hear the 
word of the Lord."" And Jesus says : "Every one that 
is of the truth heareth my voice."^'^ Again, when he 
declares, "The scripture cannot be broken,"" he calls 
attention to the infallibility of the Word. The inher- 
ent positiveness of Scripture thus consists of its abso- 
lute truth. 

The Word of God, then, is truly positive affirma- 
tively, formally, and inherently. It alone presents to 
men the perfect positive truth. Its supremacy in 
authority is consequently manifest. 

2. — Sovereign Supremacy. 

As the Word is in itself sovereign to reason, tradi- 
tion, and symbols of faith, its goal can be none other 
than to remain supreme authority and become ever 
more clearly recognized as such. Over reason, the Word 
of God is obviously sovereign. For, when it comes even 
to mere deductive reasoning about spiritual things, 
there are so great limitations set to the natural intel- 
lect, that they cannot possibly be overcome save only 
by the work of the Holy Spirit. 

Christ significantly states that the things he taught, 
were not comprehended by all : "I thank thee, O 
Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst 



f HE GOAL OF THE AUTHORITY. 83 

hide these things from the wise and understanding, 
and didst reveal them unto babes: yea, Father, for so 
it was well-pleasing in thy sight. All things have been 
delivered unto me of my Father : and no one knoweth 
the Son, save the Father; neither doth any know the 
Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son 
willeth to reveal him."" For that reason, also, when 
Simon Peter had confessed, "Thou art the Christ, the 
Son of the living God," Jesus answered him : "Blessed 
art thou, Simon Bar- Jonah : for flesh and blood hath 
not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in 
heaven.'"^ To the same effect are the words of St. 
Paul : "The natural man receiveth not the things of the 
Spirit of God : for they are foolishness unto him ; and 
he cannot know them, because they are spiritually 
judged. "^^ To discern spiritual things is therefore not 
the function of the natural reason ; because, it is only 
where reason is guided by faith that spiritual things 
can be received and apprehended, known and judged. 
Faith is indispensable to guide and enlighten reason. 
By faith in Christ, which is the result of the work of 
God's Spirit in human souls, spiritual things become 
discernible to man; since by faith the understanding 
is opened. Human natural reason is thus altogether 
dependent upon the inspired Word and the accom- 
panying guidance of the Holy Spirit. Only in this 
way can man come to faith and thereby to real spirit- 
ual knowledge of spiritual things. Therefore the aim 
of God's Word is, "Casting down imaginations, and 
every high thing that is exalted against the knowl- 
edge of God, and bringing every thought into cap- 
tivity to the obedience of Christ.'"* All men do not 



§4 THE AUTHORITY OF TH£ WORD. 

arrive at the faith which enables them to discern 
spiritual matters, because they do not obey the Gospel, 
the Word of God; as St. Paul writes: "They did not 
all hearken to the glad tidings. For Isaiah saith, 
Lord, who hath believed our report? So belief com- 
eth by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ."" 
While the things that God has prepared for them that 
love him are hidden to natural reason, they are under- 
stood by souls whom the Holy Spirit guides; as the 
Apostle to the Gentiles says of those spiritual facts, 
"Unto us God revealed them through the Spirit."*' 
How impotent, consequently, is flesh and blood to 
discern what are spiritual things! how dependent the 
reason of natural man! — ^he cannot even receive the 
things of the Spirit of God! And, if unable to com- 
prehend, how then can the natural man investigate the 
spiritual truths of the kingdom of God? Truly, since 
the natural man by deductive reasoning without the 
Holy Spirit cannot discern nor know spiritual things, 
how much less can natural reason by methods of in- 
ductive thinking essay to observe, investigate, and es- 
tablish the knowledge that has become known only in 
the order in which God revealed, inspired, and taught 
it to the world? What man cannot experience by 
receiving and apprehending, he can in no wise of him- 
self establish, like knowledge gained by human pow- 
ers of reasoning. (But to say. What one cannot ex- 
perience, one need not believe, is a flat contradiction of 
Scripture and of all believers. "Faith is the assurance 
of things hoped for, the proving of things not seen;"" 
and Jesus says: "Blessed are they that have not seen, 
and yet have believed."^) 



THE GOAL OF THE AUTHORITY. 85 

Surely it is plain that the information given to the 
world by revelation and inspiration of God, was not in 
any sense attained by human investigation. The true 
knowledge of those things is closed and sealed against 
the natural mind — unless, indeed, man will learn it by 
hearing the divinely inspired Word. To teach and 
convince that human reason is unable to furnish the 
truth of divine things and ways, Scripture challenges : 
"Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall 
happen: let them show the former things, what they 
be, that we may consider them, and know the latter 
end of them."** The answer is: "Who hath declared 
from the beginning that we may know? and before- 
time, that we may say. He is righteous? yea, there is 
none that showeth, yea, there is none that declareth, 
yea, there is none that heareth your words."" It is the 
spiritual nature of the contents of Scripture that pre- 
cludes reason from empirically making its own in- 
ductions of the facts inspired. Even the divine de- 
termining causes of the course of history cannot be 
ascertained by investigation of the external facts of 
events. There is nothing in the material, external 
facts that will of itself enable natural reason to draw 
spiritual truths therefrom. Yet the divine determining 
causes are most vital and indispensable factors in order 
to an adequate understanding of inspired history. 
Everything in true investigation of such matters de- 
pends upon obtaining the very knowledge of the plans 
of God, which constitute the irresistible primary causes 
that shape the course and destiny of God's kingdom. 
Without knowledge of the counsel and plan and mind 
of God, all explanations are mere presuppositions and 



86 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

assumptions. Yet, who could search these things? 
"Who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord, and hath 
perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his 
word and heard it?'"^ In like words, St. Paul asks: 
"Who hath known the mind of the Lord ? or who hath 
been his counselor? or who hath first given to him, 
and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of 
him, and through him, and unto him, are all things. 
To him be the glory for ever."''^ 

Reason cannot as much as see God. For, while 
Moses, Isaiah, and Ezekiel, St. Paul and St. John did 
behold the majesty of God; it was not because of any 
investigations on their part that they saw his glory, 
but solely because of the gracious condescension of 
God, who revealed himself in such a manner that they 
could see spiritually. But apart from such exceptional 
cases, the rule remains: "Verily thou art a God that 
hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.'"'^ And 
Scripture distinctly says that God "only hath immor- 
tality, dwelling in light unapproachable; Whom no 
man hath seen nor can see.""^ St. John moreover as- 
serts : "No man hath seen God at any time ; the only be- 
gotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he 
hath declared him."^° How completely the natural mind 
is barred from things pertaining to the spiritual king- 
dom of God, is indicated in the words : "Things which 
eye saw not, and ear heard not, and which entered not 
into the heart of man, whatsoever things God pre- 
pared for them that love him.'"^ 

But the fact that the natural man is precluded from 
making any inductions of spiritual things, becomes 
most obvious when one remembers that even the Holy 



THE GOAL OF THE AUTHORITY. 87 

Spirit spoke and revealed only what he heard from 
God the Father. Christ said of the Holy Spirit: "He 
shall not speak from himself; but what things soever 
he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall de- 
clare unto you the things that are to come. He shall 
glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall de- 
clare it unto you."^^ And with reference to Jesus, John 
the Baptist said: "A man can receive nothing, except 
it have been given him from heaven" ; and again, "He 
whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God : for 
he giveth not the Spirit by measure."^^ How exclu- 
sively and reservedly, then, does the Triune God deter- 
mine what is to be revealed and made known! These 
facts show conclusively that the natural man of him- 
self cannot establish anything concerning spiritual 
things; it being a methodological impossibility for 
reason to presuppose something about facts and things 
which it does not discern and cannot receive. 

Nor can man by his natural reason do as much as to 
make verification of spiritual things. Because all the 
salient facts at issue far transcend the narrow bounds 
of mere natural reason. Since spiritual things must 
be spiritually discerned, they must also be spiritually 
verified. Having no access to the world of spiritual 
facts and truths, natural man can verify nothing about 
the things of the Spirit of God. It follows that the 
Holy Spirit alone can supply knowledge of spiritual 
things; and therefore the inspired Word holds sover- 
eign authority over reason. 

The Word of God has supreme authority also over 
tradition. Outside of the Word, any tradition that ob- 
tains to this day, has not been given in verbally in- 



88 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

Spired written form, like Holy Scripture. Certain tra- 
ditions of church practice and life are clearly trace- 
able to the Apostolic days; nevertheless, traditions 
which are not explicitly included in the inspired Word, 
are simply tradition, but not Scripture. Consequently, 
Holy Scripture has this decisive prerogative over even 
the purest and best tradition; namely, the verbally in- 
spired form as it exists in the written Word. 

True and authentic tradition can always be tested 
by its consistency with the Word of God. That is the 
only criterion which Holy Scripture does countenance, 
and it is the test upon which Scripture insists. For, 
whatever tradition originates from the guidance of 
Christ the Savior and the Holy Spirit will in every 
respect agree with the Word given by inspiration of 
God. As St. Paul says : "Let us therefore, as many as 
be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye are 
otherwise minded, even this shall God reveal unto you : 
only whereunto we have already attained, by that same 
rule let us walk."^* In no case, souls are to accept or 
believe anything that contradicts the written Word 
given by inspiration. The above quoted Apostle, for in- 
stance, writes elsewhere : "Be not quickly shaken from 
your mind, nor yet be troubled ; either by spirit, or by 
word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the 
Lord is now present; let no man beguile you in any 
wise."^ If any tradition be found to contradict the rule 
of faith, such tradition is spurious. In order to protect 
believers against that which is deceptive. Scripture 
says: "If any man teacheth a different doctrine, and 
consenteth not to sound words, even the words of our 
Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is ac- 



THE GOAL OF THE AUTHORITY. 89 

cording to godliness; he is puffed up, knowing noth- 
ing.'"^ To distinguish what is true from what is false, 
a standard of comparison ever is necessary; that per- 
manent standard is the Word of God. That which is 
consistent with Scripture, is true tradition, and that 
which is inconsistent therewith is not true. Therefore, 
since Holy Scripture is the divine truth revealed as 
well as verbally inspired by God, its supremacy in 
authority over tradition is sovereign. 

Symbols of faith are likewise subordinate to the 
authority of the Word of God. Because symbols of 
faith express human subjective experiences of the di- 
vine objective faith. Those experiences indeed differ, 
on account of the differences in human receptivity of 
the Word ; nevertheless, truly Scriptural expression of 
faith remains identical as long as earth and heaven 
abide: moreover it is a fact that the experiences of 
faith by many individual souls agree concerning gen- 
eral doctrines, whenever Holy Scripture alone is the 
guide of faith. Such doctrines, when properly ex- 
pressed by representative believers, constitute symbols 
or confessions of faith. In case these general doc- 
trines truly express the correct Scriptural teaching, 
then there is agreement, consistency, between the sub- 
jective faith of believers and the objective faith of the 
Word of God. But if there should be disagreement 
between the faith expressed in confessions of faith and 
the faith taught by Holy Scripture ; then it is the con- 
fessions of faith which are wrong and not the Scrip- 
ture. For there is this distinction ever to be observed : 
Holy Scripture is verbally inspired of God; but con- 
fessions of faith are not so inspired. 



90 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

Symbols of faith are subjective, so far as they ex- 
press the experiences of faith ; but objective, so far as 
they represent the position of the Church. It is self- 
evident, furthermore, that since the facts of Scripture 
faith are the source and cause of the experiences of 
faith in souls, therefore the human faith should be 
truly consistent with the Scriptural faith that produced 
it. For that reason, it is necessary to verify symbols 
of faith by comparing them with the only rule and 
standard God has given for that purpose; namely, the 
Word of God. In this way, the Samaritans verified 
and confirmed what the woman whom Jesus instructed 
at Jacob's well had told them: "Many more believed 
because of his word ; and they said to the woman, Now 
we believe, not because of thy speaking: for we have 
heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the 
Saviour of the world."" Confessions of faith are cap- 
able of such verifications, because they are the expres- 
sion of experiences that are subject to constant growth 
and development as centuries come and go. And Holy 
Scripture forever is the true criterion, as it is the only 
rule and standard divinely ordered and given for such 
purposes. Thus, when Christ told his Apostles to make 
disciples of all nations, he expressly added: "Teach 
them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded 
you.'"* And he said in prayer to his heavenly Father: 
"Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also 
that believe on me through their word.'"* In corres- 
pondence with these words, St. Paul writes: "Every 
Scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teach- 
ing."*" The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews enjoins : 
"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to 



THE GOAL OF THE AUTHORITY. QI 

the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away 
from them."" St. Peter obligates Christians to abide by 
the Scriptures, saying: "Remember the words which 
were spoken before by the holy prophets, and che com- 
mandment of the Lord and Savior through your 
apostles."" Seeing, then, that Holy Scripture is of God 
made the only criterion in matters of faith, ic is the only 
and sovereign rule and standard by which all doctrines 
and confessions of faith are to be esteemed, judged, 
and determined. 

The authority of the Word is sovereign in suprem- 
acy, since the Word alone was given by verbal inspira- 
tion of God. As the natural man cannot know any- 
thing of the things of the Spirit of God, his only rela- 
tion to the Word of God is one of dependence. Tradi- 
tion, lacking divine inspiration into permanent form, 
is subordinate to the inspired Word. Symbols of faith, 
being but the expression of faith derived from the 
means of grace, are dependent upon Holy Scripture. 
It is clear that the goal of Scripture authority is to 
enjoy among men sovereign supremacy in spiritual 
things. 

3. — Permanent Supremacy. 

The authority of God's Word is permanently to hold 
supremacy. Not only for one age or generation, but 
for all the world. Holy Scripture is to bear witness of 
the redemption of Christ. Its authority is permanent: 
the doctrines of Scripture express principles and laws 
that are spiritual ; the history of Scripture presents 
facts of life long past and irrevocable ; and the pro- 
phecy of Scripture continues in force till all be fulfilled. 
St. Peter says of the Word that it liveth and abideth : 



92 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

"For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory thereof as 
the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the 
flower falleth: but the word of the Lord abideth for 
ever."" 

Scripture authority is permanently supreme, because 
its doctrines are for all time. Eternal truths are ex- 
pressed by the teachings of the Word ; namely the im- 
mutable truths of God, of the kingdom of heaven, and 
of eternal salvation. Though Scripture indeed also 
contains temporal laws and regulations; for instance, 
chiefly those given to the Israelites to regulate the af- 
fairs of their theocratic government, yet the spiritual 
laws and principles which the Word of God teaches 
are imperishable truths and are as enduring as the 
kingdom of heaven. What Scripture inculcates of the 
holy will of God is permanent truth, because God's 
will is perfect in every respect. Further, what it 
teaches of the creation of heaven and earth, of the 
creation and fall of man, of the promises given to 
Abraham and all the promises and revelations, — is 
about facts, truths and principles that are forever true. 
By the Law of Sinai, the world is permanently taught 
the perfect righteousness and true holiness required 
of man; which requirements Christ alone was able to 
fulfill. By the Gospel of Christ, all mankind is taught 
that as many as believe in Jesus, do by grace of God 
obtain eternal righteousness, and are regenerated to 
true holiness. These and all related truths are perma- 
nent teachings. Knowledge of the truth which Holy 
Scripture thus teaches, brings the kingdom of heaven 
within the reach of any person that hears the Word. 
God therefore wants this knowledge and information 



THE GOAL OF THE AUTHORITY. 93 

to be communicated even unto the uttermost parts of 
the earth. Holy Scripture restores to the world the true 
concepts of God and of man, of the kingdom of heaven, 
of righteousness and holiness. The spiritual concepts 
which the world gradually lost, are thus restored by 
the inspired Word. That Adam knew his God and 
Creator, that people at the time of Seth called on the 
name of the Lord, that Noah and others before him 
believed in God, are indeed facts. But it is also a fact 
that, with few exceptions, the whole world gradually 
had lost all definite concepts of God, till in the days of 
Abraham, God began more fully to reveal himself. 
Wherever darkness yet covers the earth, the Word of 
God proves itself a light shining in a dark place, till 
the day of redemption dawn around the whole world. 
The Word is to abide to the end of time that all may 
come to God. For God says, "Look unto me, and be 
ye saved, all the ends of the earth : for I am God, and 
there is none else.'"^ Scripture again declares : "All the 
ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God."** 
The same is expressed in the words : "God willeth that 
all men should be saved, and come to the knowledge 
of the truth.'"^ Accordingly Holy Scripture is to con- 
tinue to bear its witness, in order that all who are yet 
to live, may know the whole counsel of the salvation 
of God. "It is easier," says Jesus, "for heaven and 
earth to pass away, than for one tittle of the law to 
fall."*' 

Inspired history is of like permanent authority. For, 
the facts recorded are indissolubly connected with the 
past development of the kingdom of God. Events and 
occurrences that are past, are irrevocable. They ever 



94 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. , 

remain as they have transpired. Scripture perma- 
nently records the facts of the history of man, begin- 
ning with his creation in the image of God and the* fall 
into disobedience and sin, that every one may know 
these undeniable facts. Showing the course of mere 
earthly life to be nothing but vanity. Scriptural history 
teaches mankind that the chief duty of man is to seek 
the kingdom of God, according to Christ's prime rule 
of life: "Seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteous- 
ness, and all these things shall be added unto you."*" 
It is from the examples of inspired history that young 
and old of every century may learn how the good fight 
of faith is to be fought; so that where sin did abound 
the grace of God may abound much more, and that the 
covenant of a good conscience with God may be pre- 
served unsullied. The experiences of faith and those 
of unbelief exhibited in the lives of persons and the 
history of nations are enduringly set forth in the Word 
of God for the learning of all who hear and read the 
Word. "These things happened unto them by way 
of example ; and they were written for our adminition, 
upon whom the ends of the ages are come."*" What- 
ever facts exemplify sins, such as disobedience, trans- 
gression, and unbelief, are facts that serve as a per- 
petual admonition and warning for others lest they fall 
in the same manner of sin, provoking God's anger. 
"Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, 
that no man fall after the same example of disobe- 
dience.'"^ And whatever things exemplify righteous- 
ness, faith, and love are to be a perpetual exhortation 
and encouragement to others to emulate the example 
of a life pleasing to God. "Therefore let us also, see- 



THE GOAL OF THE AUTHORITY. 95 

ing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of 
witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which 
doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the 
race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the 
author and perfecter of our faith."" Inspired history 
truthfully presents for all ages and times the facts of 
human sin, its vileness, guilt, and curse, as they ap- 
pear in the course of the development of the human 
race, and particularly, of the chosen people; and this 
history just as truthfully presents for all generations 
the facts of redemption, its atonement, righteousness, 
and blessings as they become manifest in the growth 
of the kingdom of God. Holy Scripture gives an in- 
delible account of what is human life, and especially, 
the spiritual, eternal life hid with Christ in God. The 
facts of the history given in Scripture are irrevocable 
and their consequences endure to eternity. Alikd 
enduring and supreme is the authority of the inspired 
Word recording those facts. 

The permanent supremacy of Scriptural authority 
is furthermore assured by the divine prophecy. From 
prophecy, one can clearly ascertain the progress and 
duration of the plans of God. For since the promises 
and prophecies of God show what God has foreor- 
dained, the permanence of his counsel is vividly pre- 
sented. Prophecy emphasizes the fact that all nations 
are yet to share the blessings of redemption by Christ. 
So far as fulfilled in the past, prophecy shows what 
the Word of God has already accomplished ; prophecies 
at present in course of fulfillment prove the continuous 
growth of God's kingdom ; and the prophecies reserved 
for future fulfillment, show that the plans of God con- 



96 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

cerning the redemption of the world are not yet com- 
pletely fulfilled. The Word of prophecy remains in 
authority wherever the will of God is to be obeyed and 
done: God says, "They shall know that I am the 
Lord."^"" Regarding the duration of the great plans of 
Almighty God, it is sufficient to know that God has 
appointed seasons and days of fulfillment. If in the 
meantime thousands of years do pass, it need but be 
remembered that "the Lord is not slack concerning his 
promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering 
to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but 
that all should come to repentance. "^^ None should 
think that when God waits centuries before fulfilling 
certain prophecies, that his Word therefore has lost 
authority. He often fulfills his promises when least 
expected. "Faithful is he that calleth you, who will 
also do it."^ Believers have ever and always been 
taught to retain their confidence in the Lord God, who 
constantly speaks to his people through Holy Scrip- 
ture. "Thou wilt perform," says the prophet, "the 
truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou 
hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.'"^"* 
The Epistle to the Hebrews exhorts : "Cast not away 
therefore your boldness, which hath great recompense 
of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, having 
done the will of God, ye may receive the promise."^^ 
The standing promise of Scripture is : "He which 
testifieth these things saith. Yea: I come quickly. 
Amen : come. Lord Jesus."" Christ still has in his 
hands the keys of life and death, heaven and hell, sal- 
vation and condemnation. His Word continues to per- 
form its work till the whole counsel of God is fulfilled. 



THE GOAL OF THE AUTHORITY. QfJ 

Its authority therefore is permanently supreme : "the 
Word of the Lord endureth forever." 

In concluding, it is seen that Scriptural authority is 
supreme. Its supremacy in spiritual matters is posi- 
tive, sovereign, and permanent. Wherever the Word 
has been unreservedly received and faithfully kept, its 
goal is attained among men. By the authority of the 
Word, the kingdom of God is everywhere extended on 
earth. When Christ shall have come again, when the 
Jerusalem on high shall have appeared in heavenly 
beauty, when the new heaven and earth shall have been 
established, then the goal of the authority of God's 
Word will be completely attained and its supremacy 
unquestioned for all eternity. 



V. 

THE results of the authority of Holy Scripture 
appear in the rise and growth of the kingdom of 
grace. Christ's Church is the evidence of the ages 
that the Word of God accomplishes what it says. 
Whether accepted or not, the Word is followed by in- 
evitable consequences. Especially, by the fact that 
Christ the Redeemer is truly believed on, do the Scrip- 
tures prove their abiding authority. Various indi- 
vidual phases of Christian history likewise clearly at- 
test the results of the authority of the Word of God. 
Whatever Scripture accomplishes among men, abides 
forever. 

I — Growth in a General Way. 

Results seen in the gradual growth of God's king- 
dom on earth, amply prove the great authority of 
Scripture. The events and occurrences of the heavenly 
kingdom witness in truth that the Word does prosper 
in the thing whereto God sent it. Without the Word 
of God, the kingdom of grace never comes; aside of 
the Word, it never grows ; apart from the Word, it 
never abides. Already in the ages preceding the long 
foretold coming of Christ and his kingdom, the results 
of the authority of Holy Scripture are manifest. For, 

99 



100 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

it is only the Word of God, written and spoken, that 
prepared the world for the day of redemption. 

Ever since God's Word is known, it proved to be a 
savor of life to them that believe and keep it, and a 
savor of death to them that despise and ignore it. By 
Moses, the complete authority of Scripture over faith 
and life of the people of God is emphasized in pas- 
sages like the one : "The Word is very nigh unto thee, 
in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do 
it. . . .1 call heaven and earth to record this day 
against you, that I have set before you life and death, 
blessing and cursing."^ The things, therefore, that oc- 
curred in the history of Israel from the day they were 
brought out of Egypt, are the clear outcome of the 
working of the Word. The times when the Word was 
heeded by the Israelites, were the periods of truest 
progress towards redemption. For then they real- 
ized their utter inability to be saved by the law, and 
consequently prayed for the coming of the Redeemer. 
They that heeded the Word, cheerfully confessed: 
"All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto 
such as keep his covenant and his testimonies."* But 
the times when the Word of God was ignored by the 
people, were the periods of backsliding from the ways 
of God and from the promised salvation. Where the 
people openly rejected the Word, God withdrew his 
mercy and help. Nehemiah, for example, confesses 
with reference to the captivity at Babylon: "Thou art 
just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done 
right, but we have done wickedly : neither have our 
kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept 
thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and 



THE RESULTS OF THE AUTHORITY. lOI 

thy testimonies wherewith thou didst testify against 
them.'" But though the people broke the covenant of 
law, yet the covenant of promise remained in force to 
be fulfilled in the appointed time. Accordingly, Isaiah 
writes: "The mountains shall depart, and the hills be 
removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, 
neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, 
saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee."* For the sake 
of the promises solemnly assured by his Word, God 
saved a remnant of the Jews until Christ the Messiah 
should come, because he declared: *T have sworn by 
myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in right- 
eousness, and shall not return, That unto me every 
knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, 
shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and 
strength : even to him shall men come."° As much as 
Holy Scripture records of the history preparatory to 
Christ and his kingdom, demonstrates definite results 
of the authority of the Word: God has abundant 
power to do what he has said. 

When Christ in the fulness of time brought the 
kingdom of heaven, the authority of Scripture re- 
ceived the complete recognition due to it. All that he 
did was in fulfillment of law and prophecy, and in com- 
pliance with the words given him of God. Christ was 
guided not by his own will and inclination, but by the 
will and pleasure of God as expressed in the inspired 
Word. Holy Scripture was the rule and standard of 
Christ's teaching and life ; Scripture together with the 
Word God spoke by him, was the sole guide of Christ. 
He says, ''Think not that I am come to destroy the law 
or the prophets : I came not to destroy, but to fulfill. 



102 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass 
away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away 
from the law, till all things be accomplished.'" What 
Christ accomplished on earth, was the result of the 
Word of God. "I can," Jesus says, "of myself do 
nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is right- 
eous ; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of 
him that sent me.'" The same thought, he expressed in 
the words: "That the world may know that I love the 
Father, and as the Father gave me commandment, 
even so I do. Arise, let us go hence."* So far, then, 
as Christ's life and work in bringing God's kingdom 
is concerned, everything was accomplished through 
the Word of God. The guiding purpose of Jesus al- 
ways was so to labor that the Scripture might be ful- 
filled and the will of God performed. 

Through the ministry of the Apostles, the kingdom 
of Christ was completely established according to the 
Word of God. Theirs was a ministry of the Word. 
With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the doors of 
the kingdom of heaven were thrown ajar to all that 
believe in the Gospel of Christ as presented by the 
Apostles. The Word of promise which had slowly 
sprouted during the long night preceding the day of 
Christ, grew and blossomed into full splendor in the 
acceptable time and day of salvation. Indeed, from 
the day of Pentecost, the growth of Christ's kingdom 
is synonymous with the growth of the Word. The 
disciples themselves, in compliance with the word and 
command of Christ, were gathered in Jerusalem 
awaiting the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. And of them 
that were added to the Church on that day. Scripture 



THE RESULTS OP THE AUTHORITY. IO3 

says: "They then that received his word were bap- 
tized."' Subsequently, wherever the Word of God was 
preached the kingdom of Christ grew and increased. 
Thus it is further recorded: "The word of God in- 
creased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in 
Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the 
priests were obedient to the faith."" Among the Gen- 
tiles, too, God's Word produced remarkable results; 
for instance, at Ephesus occurrences took place that 
show how "mightily grew the word of the Lord and 
prevailed." 

God moreover accompanied his Word with signs 
and wonders to confirm it. Especially in the time of 
Moses and the days of Christ were marvelous miracles 
given to establish the authority of the Word. Miracles 
serve to show that the results following the inspired 
Word are performed by him who "worketh all things 
after the pleasure of his will." Signs and wonders are 
irrefutable proof that he who performed the works 
is also the God who inspired the preceding Word. 
Even unbelievers are by miracles constrained to con- 
fess : "This is the finger of God."" 

The object of having signs and wonders accompany 
the Word is on the one hand to punish the wicked, like 
Pharaoh and his people ; and on the other hand to en- 
courage believers, like the Israelites and the people in 
the day of Christ and his Apostles. People of all eras, 
remembering the miracles which God has performed, 
are with all confidence to receive the Word, not as 
men's word, but as the Word of God, which it is in 
truth. "Remember what the Lord thy God did unto 
Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt; the great temptations 



104 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, 
and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm, 
whereby the Lord thy God brought thee out."" By his 
magnificent divine works, Christ convinced the dis- 
ciples and other people of his authority as Messiah; 
thus, having fed the 5,000 men, when "the people saw 
the sign which he did, they said. This is of a truth the 
prophet that cometh into the world."^^ Jesus expressly 
claimed his works as evidence of his authority: "The 
words that I say unto you, I speak not from myself : 
but the Father abiding in me doeth his works. Be- 
lieve me that I am in the Father, and the Father in 
me: or else believe me for the very works' sake."^* Of 
course, the Word most spontaneously and gloriously 
attained its results where men, believing in the power 
of God and in the authority of his servants, could truly 
ask, like the centurion: "Only say the word, and my 
servant shall be healed."^' 

Miracles accompanied also the Word spoken by the 
Apostles. And they ascribed those results to Jesus, 
whom God has given all power in heaven and earth. 
"They went forth," St. Mark says, "and preached ev- 
erywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming 
the word by the signs that followed."^* St. Luke writes 
in the Book of Acts, saying: "Long time, therefore, 
they tarried there speaking boldly in the Lord, which 
bare witness unto the word of his grace, granting signs 
and wonders to be done by their hands."" The Word 
of God, signally proved and confirmed at the time when 
it was revealed and inspired, is ever working the will 
of God. He himself sustains the Word by his grace 
'and power. Though signs and wonders performed by 



THE RESULTS OF THE AUTHORITY. IO5 

God have seldom transpired on so grand a scale as at 
the time of Moses and Christ when the Word was 
chiefly given, yet they all are nevertheless just as true ; 
since it is God that makes "all things work together 
for good to them that love God," and with temptations 
and afflictions prepares the way of deliverance for 
them that believe. Since the days when Holy Scrip- 
ture was completed, the Word has ever proved the 
divine means of accomplishing the purpose of God. 
The great power of God to confirm the Word by mir- 
acle will be manifest when one contemplates words 
like the following: "Who hath measured the waters 
in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with 
the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a 
measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the 
hills in a balance ? Who hath directed the Spirit of the 
Lord, or being his counselor hath taught him? With 
whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and 
taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him 
knowledge, and showed to him the way of under- 
standing? Behold, the nations are as a drop of a 
bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the bal- 
ance : behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little 
thing."^' 

Through the centuries from the Apostolic days on- 
ward. Holy Scripture has sustained the Christian 
Church in her growth and development. All nations 
to whom the Word was preached, gradually were 
added to the kingdom of Christ: and all people to 
whom the Word is unknown, are still heathen. Fur- 
thermore, in those epochs of Church history, where 
truth had to contend against error. Holy Scripture ob- 



I06 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

tained the victory for the truth. In the age of the 
Greek and Latin Church Fathers, for instance, the 
very fact that some persons quoted from various kinds 
of writing, whether inspired or not, constrained the 
Church to ascertain what writings were really known 
to be inspired and consequently were true Scrip- 
ture: it follows that the Church of those days took 
the inspired Word as the sole determining guide and 
rule by which to establish the divine truth. Again, in 
the age of attempted reforms within the Church, only 
that attempt developed into a successful reformation, 
which made Holy Scripture the sole guide and stand- 
ard in all questions of faith ; for, when the faith of the 
Church is truly Scriptural, her life can readily conform 
to the will of God. To the end of time, the growth of 
the kingdom of heaven is continuously dependent upon 
the Word of God. Only there does Christ's kingdom 
exist and abide, where the confessions of faith are truly 
Scriptural, and where Christians do the will of God. 
That also some insincere persons will associate there, 
is but the compliment which deception renders to up- 
rightness. However when Christians depart from the 
Word of truth, they are branches that bring forth no 
fruit and that finally wither. Christ says, "If ye abide 
in my word, then are ye truly my disciples."^® 

The kingdom of God, then, grows wherever the 
authority of the Word of God is acknowledged and 
the results of the Word are observable. Beginning 
small among kingdoms, like the mustard-plant among 
herbs, the kingdom of Christ has grown to be the 
greatest realm known. Growth and development of 
the kingdom of grace will continue, until all nations 



THE RESULTS OF THE AUTHORITY. IO7 

are become "the kingdom of our Lord and of his 
Christ." 

2. — Growth in a Special Sense. 

Knowledge and acceptance of Christ is what marks 
the growth of God's kingdom in a special sense. For 
Christ is the only Redeemer of the world, the only 
Mediator between God and man. Only through him, 
the way, the truth, and the life, can a repentant soul 
obtain the divine blessings ; such as, forgiveness of 
sins, eternal righteousness, spiritual life. Without 
Jesus, none can come to the Father, nor enter the king- 
dom of heaven. "In none other is there salvation : for 
neither is there any other name under heaven, that is 
given among men, wherein we must be saved."*' 

The redemption of the world by Christ is the most 
divine triumph God's Word has won on earth : Christ 
perfectly obeyed the Word and will of God. Jesus 
permitted nothing to swerve him from the inspired 
Word. The Word of God was the absolute objective 
criterion of his work and life. He ever rightly inter- 
preted the true and deep meaning of Scripture, especi- 
ally where men previously had not correctly or pre- 
cisely grasped the sense. But he never criticised the 
least jot or tittle of the law or prophets. 

Where persons acknowledge the divine authority of 
the Word as implicitly as Christ did, it will produce 
similar blessed results. The great blessings of redemp- 
tion are to be obtained only by them that accept Christ. 
"For both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified 
are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to 
call them brethren.'"'^ Scripture teaches the correct and 
true facts about Christ, and shows how men accepted 



I08 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

him by believing in him. There are three irrefutable 
facts involved in correct and true knowledge of Christ, 
which must be recognized and believed, if one would 
accept him so as to obtain the eternal righteousness and 
divine peace. These facts are : first, that Jesus is Im- 
manuel, true God and true man ; secondly, that he gave 
his blood and life in atonement of the sin of the world ; 
and thirdly, that he is in fellowship with regenerate 
persons. So vital to redemption are these facts, that 
none of them can be denied or ignored without forfeit- 
ing connection with the kingdom of God. For, who- 
ever does not believe that Christ the Son of God is 
come into the flesh, is not of God ; and whoever does 
not believe that the blood of Christ was shed for the 
remission of sin, does not obtain the righteousness that 
availeth before God; and again, whoever does not be- 
lieve that Christ is in living fellowship with the regen- 
erate, does not abide in Christ nor Christ in him. 
"Take heed therefore how ye hear,"" Christ admon- 
ishes. And the Book of Acts reaffirms the words of 
Moses : "To him shall ye hearken in all things whatso- 
ever he shall speak unto you.'"^ God himself exhorts 
from heaven : "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am 
well pleased; hear ye him."^ 

The Word of God gives abundant testimony show- 
ing how Christ was known and accepted by believing 
men of Scripture days. Thus its testimony concerning 
Christ as true God is clear and convincing. For in- 
stance, what Psalm 2 says, "Thou art my Son,'* is 
amply corroborated in the Epistle to the Hebrews. 
Isaiah's reference to the Immanuel is completely sus- 
tained by St. Matthew. Moreover, the Triune God 



THE RESULTS OF THE AUTHORITY. IO9 

witnessed that Christ is God's Son. And with equal 
clearness, Scripture maintains that Christ is true 
man, the Shiloh of the tribe of Judah, the root and the 
offspring of David. That is the way in which pro- 
phets and apostles knew and believed in Christ. 

The fact of atonement, also, is taught and accepted 
throughout Scripture. Isaiah, for example, who had 
prophesied of Christ's afflictions, declares they were 
vicarious. God indeed "foreshewed by the mouth of 
all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer."^' And 
the significance of their testimony consists in this that 
the Messiah should by his sufferings "make reconcilia- 
tion for iniquity and bring in everlasting righteous- 
ness."^® The Lord and all his Apostles fully and posi- 
tively testify that God's new testament is by the blood 
of Jesus Christ to cleanse men from all sin. 

With reference to the indwelling of God in the re- 
generate, prophetic writers, like Moses, Ezekiel, and 
Zechariah say that God would dwell in the midst of 
those who keep his Word. The full meaning of their 
words is brought out by Apostolic writers, like St. 
John and St. Paul, who teach that Christians are the 
temple of the living God. Christ reassuringly says 
that God would come and make his abode with his 
faithful people. Christ ever sustains an intimate spir- 
itual relation with his people in that he is the eternal, 
living, present Head of the Church. "He is the head 
of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the 
firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might 
have the pre-eminence."" 

Thus men knew and confessed Christ in the days 
when the Scriptures were being written. To all that 



no THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

believed in Christ and accepted him, power was given 
to become the children of God and be members of his 
kingdom. For his kingdom is within believing, re- 
generate souls. 

Holy Scripture alone, presenting the true knowledge 
of Christ, enables men savingly to accept him by faith ; 
for, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to-day, 
yea and for ever."^ From the earliest time, the Chris- 
tian Church has held and confessed this faith. And 
by the authority of the Word, the Church has been 
sustained in her faith through all subsequent genera- 
tions. Though misleading views did assail the truth, 
the negation of faith never prevailed over the affirma- 
tion of sound faith in Christ by the Church. From 
Gnosticism to Rationalism, all contradictory tenden- 
cies were frustrated by the testimony of the Word of 
God. Millions of men to this day believe in Christ like 
the Apostles themselves; and like the Church that 
from them heard the facts of redemption. 

Christ is the cornerstone of salvation. His king- 
dom is solely of God, it grows through his grace, and is 
made unto his glory: the joy and glory of the ran- 
somed is the reflection of the love and majesty of the 
Eternal Redeemer. By the authority of Scripture, the 
Christian Church is upheld in her faith and the growth 
of the kingdom ever prospered through knowledge and 
acceptance of Christ. 

3. — Growth in Particular Phases. 
Though times and epochs may greatly differ, the 
influence of the Word on man remains the same; be- 
cause, human nature is human nature and the Word of 
Cod is the Word of God, There are many particular 



THE RESULTS OF THE AUTHORITY. Ill 

phases observable in connection with the growth of 
God's kingdom, that illustrate the blessed results of the 
Word. Such phases enable one to see how the au- 
thority of Scripture reaches into the manifold affairs 
of Christian faith and life. 

One of the most evident phases attending the 
growth of the kingdom of Christ is the attitude of its 
members toward the Word of God. The attitude of 
all true members ever has conformed to that of Christ 
and his Apostles; that is, their attitude was uniformly 
one of willing reception of the Word. Christ desig- 
nates them as true members of his kingdom, who hear 
and do the Word. "My mother and my brethren are 
these which hear the word of God, and do it.'"° Jes^3 
further says : "He that hath my commandments, and 
keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that 
loveth me shall be loved of my Father.''*" This faithful, 
obedient attitude towards the Word is what makes 
men's prayers acceptable with God; so that Jesus as- 
sures his disciples : "If ye abide in me, and my words 
abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be 
done unto you."^ But of them that ignore the author- 
ity of the Word, he declares : "He that loveth me not 
keepeth not my words : and the word which ye hear is 
not mine, but the Father's who sent me.'"^ It is there- 
fore not criticism of the Word of God, which Jesus 
commends as the proper attitude ; but obedience : "If 
ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love ; 
even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and 
abide in his love."^ 

Since Holy Scripture is verbally inspired by the 
Spirit of God, since God the Father himself gave the 



112 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

things which the H6ly Spirit should speak and com- 
municate, since Jesus Christ from childhood to the 
death on the cross obeyed and fulfilled the Word of 
God, therefore the true attitude towards the Word 
obviously is to hear carefully and obey willingly the 
voice of the eternal God. The words which God spoke 
through Moses and the other prophets, through Jesus 
and the Apostles, and which were by divine inspiration 
recorded in Holy Scripture, constitute the voice of 
God. By this Word of Scripture, men can expose 
things that are not of God; and by it, they can prove 
what things are of God. True believers ever made 
the Scriptures their standard of judgment in such 
matters, because they knew the Scriptures to have di- 
vine authority. St. Paul therefore approved of the 
people of Berea, who received the Word with all 
readiness of mind, and who also searched the Scrip- 
tures to compare and prove the correctness of what 
they had heard. Even by people to whom they came 
as strangers, it could thus be conclusively ascertained 
that St. Paul and his colaborers were divinely in- 
spired: the signs accompanying the Word proved 
that, and the testimony of the Scriptures sealed the 
proof with invincible certainty. Regarding the other 
Apostles, the people already from the day of Pente- 
cost knew that they were as truly inspired as Moses 
and all the prophets. Therefore the words of the Gos- 
pel spoken and written by the Apostles were known 
to be the Word of God and so received by men whose 
hearts were open to the Word of truth. The same 
Apostle who commended receiving the Word with 
readiness of mind and searching of Scripture to con- 



THE RESULTS OF THE AUTHORITY. II3 

firm it, more plainly still commends ready faith in 
God's Word, saying : "So then, my beloved, even as ye 
have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but 
now much more in my absence, work out your own 
salvation with fear and trembling ; for it is God which 
worketh in you both to will and to work, for his 
good pleasure."^ The attitude of readiness to receive 
the Word is characteristic of all faithful believers. 
Though there be some things which they do not yet 
understand, still they believe, remembering it is God's 
Word. The age or century in which true minded 
people live, matters nothing so far as the manner of 
their receiving the Word is concerned. Christ forever 
indicates the distinguishing property and attitude of 
his true followers, when he says: "That in the good 
ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, 
having heard the word, hold it fast, and bring forth 
fruit with patience."^ 

Another phase attending the growth of Christ's 
kingdom, in which the results of the authority of God's 
Word are seen, is the agreement of believers in gen- 
eral doctrines and precepts. In matters of faith as well 
as life there is fundamental unanimity among all them 
who own and acknowledge the Word of God as the 
sole and only authority in determining doctrines and 
teachers. For Holy Scripture informs the world of 
the things which are to be believed that men by such 
knowledge gained through faith may be transformed 
by the renewing of their minds and the regeneration 
of their souls. Therefore Christ, in his parting words, 
enjoins the Apostles : "Teach them to observe all things 
whatsoever I commanded you."^ Scripture doctrines. 



1 14 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

when taught completely true to the Word, cannot but 
meet acceptance with believers. In all doctrines, 
there was harmony among the early Christians of 
whom Scripture speaks ; although that does not say 
human infirmities were absolutely absent: it simply 
says that those believers were likeminded in the prin- 
ciples of faith and life so long as they continued 
steadfastly in the teaching which the Apostles gave 
them. 

The agreement of subsequent ages expresses itself 
chiefly in the confessions of faith, from the briefest, 
the Apostles' Creed, to the most complete, the For- 
mula of Concord. All Christians who acknowledge 
only the Word of God as the rule and guide of their 
conscience in matters of Christian faith and spiritual 
life, have also agreed at least in the fundamental 
doctrines of Christianity; for Scripture teaches con- 
sistently concerning all things. While the general 
principles of the Christian Church were by no means 
all simultaneously framed into confessions of faith 
but as the exigencies of times or epochs required such 
statements, still, whatever is truly and completely 
Scriptural in symbols of faith permanently through 
the ages expresses the agreement in faith of the 
Church of Christ. Thus leading men of the most 
prominent nationalities of the Christian eras, like Atha- 
nasius of the Greek, Augustine of the Latin, Luther 
of the German, exhibit truly oecumenical agreement 
in the general principles of their theological position, 
because their position is Scriptural. These national- 
ities became leaders for cognate nations sharing with 
them the general confessions of faith; and the men 



THE RESULTS OF THE AUTHORITY. II5 

referred to are merely the most representative of many 
like minded eminent and great Christian men. Thou- 
sands and millions of souls have shared and still share 
these men's respective presentations of Scripture doc- 
trines and precepts. All Christendom ever held the 
general principles of Christian faith and life; for, if 
any depart from the primary principles, they have made 
shipwreck of their faith. In fact, the more completely 
Scriptural principles of faith are, the more thorough 
and complete is the agreement between men; the 
Word has the divine power to dissolve differences be- 
tween nation and nation, race and race, Jew and Gen- 
tile, and bring them all to the true spiritual harmony 
in Christ. However, it is not by methods of casuistry 
that agreement of faith is attained, but by the spirit of 
believing love which God has shed abroad in Chris- 
tian hearts ; the Word produces that spirit, wherever its 
authority is heeded as unquestioningly as by Christ and 
his Apostles, by Christians of Apostolic days, and by 
true believers of all centuries. For that reason did 
Christ ask of the heavenly Father : "Neither for these 
only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me 
through their word; that they may all be one.'"'' 

Still another prominent phase in the Church's 
growth showing the authority of the Word, is the bear- 
ing of Scripture on the theological standing of Chris- 
tian pastors. Where the Word of God is the only rule 
and standard for judging and esteeming theologians 
with respect to their doctrinal standing and attitude. 
Scriptural views are the result. As theological works 
are not all alike in spirit or in tendency, and as, more- 
over, every pastor is responsible to God for his own 



Il6 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

position in teaching those entrusted to him for spiritual 
guidance, he must conscientiously examine his position 
to see whether it is truly consistent with the principle, 
"Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, 
a workman that needeth not be ashamed, handling 
aright the word of truth."^^ From Christ and his 
Apostles, one may observe that the correct tendency 
of theological science is to ascertain and establish the 
true interpretation and presentation of the wealth and 
riches of divine knowledge and wisdom contained in 
the Word of God ; so that to the faithful pastor applies 
the parable : "Every scribe who hath been made a dis- 
ciple of the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that 
is a householder, which bringeth forth out of his 
treasure things new and old."*® 

It is the pastor's privilege and duty in his ministry 
to contend for the faith as delivered unto the saints by 
Holy Scripture, and also for the sound and Scriptural 
confessions of faith transmitted through the centuries 
by the Church for the guidance of her pastors. As 
St. Paul instructed Timothy : "Fight the good fight of 
the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou 
wast called and didst confess the good confession in 
the sight of many witnesses. I charge thee in the sight 
of God, who quickeneth all things, and of Jesus Christ, 
who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confes- 
sion; that thou keep the commandment, without spot, 
without reproach, until the appearing of our Lord 
Jesus Christ."*" Again he tells him: "Charge certain 
men not to teach a different doctrine, neither to give 
heed to fables and endless genealogies, the which min- 
ister questionings, rather than a dispensation of God 



THE RESULTS OF THE AUTHORITY. II7 

which is in faith."" Theological tendencies of sound 
Scriptural development and growth, a pastor can al- 
ways safely follow ; but tendencies that disintegrate 
sound Scriptural positions are what the Word of God 
warns against. Where the authority of the Word is 
the authority that a pastor follows without mental re- 
servations, he will be in harmony not only with all 
true Scriptural theology of the past and present; but 
what is worth more, he will also be in conformity with 
the will and authority of God. 

From many other particular phases of the growth 
of God's kingdom, results of Scripture authority can 
be observed. What has been considered, brings out 
with clearness the blessings of the Word of God. 
Whatever is Scriptural in doctrine and life and all 
things, has invincible power and authority. 

Thus the results of the Word are seen in the work- 
ing out of the plan and counsel of God. The general 
growth of the kingdom which has ever continued since 
the great Whitsunday in Jerusalem, is still observable. 
Equally obvious is the fact that Christ the Redeemer 
is being truly confessed and accepted in all parts of the 
world. And on every hand, in private and public life, 
particular evidences of the authority of God's holy 
Word are seen. In fine, the Word that proceeded 
out of the mouth of God is ever more manifestly pro- 
ducing the results designed by the Lord of heaven 
and earth. 



Ql0nrIuauitt 

THE authority of the Word of God has for its 
realm and sphere the things and affairs of the 
kingdom of God. These things and affairs are of a 
spiritual nature. With God originates all the authority- 
predicated of him in the Scriptures : the executive, leg- 
islative, and judicial powers of the kingdom of heaven 
repose in him and are exercised by him. God is the 
Alpha and Omega of all authority in his kingdom. 
"Of him, and through him, and unto him, are all 
things. To him be the glory for ever.'"" 

The Spirit of God selected the men through whom 
the truths of the kingdom of God were revealed and 
given to the world. The Word of God thus is the divine- 
ly given constitution of his spiritual government, be- 
cause all the principles in any way relevant to the re- 
demption by Jesus Christ are permanently laid down in 
the Word; it is further the criterion of all Christian 
teachers and doctrines, because the Word is the rule 
of faith ; finally, it is the touchstone of the conscience 
of man, because the Word, by reason of its living spir- 
itual power, is a discerner of the thoughts and intents 
of the heart. God gave all authority over the king- 
dom of heaven into the hands of Christ; as Jesus 
states : "All authority hath been given unto me in heav- 
en and on earth. "*^ This authority Christ exercises on 
earth through the means of grace in the Church by 
the ministry of the Word, whose only rule and stand- 

119 



120 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

ard of authority is the inspired Word of God as found 
in Holy Scripture in permanent inspired form. 

The Word of God, being eternal truth, possesses 
eternal authority. And this authority of Holy Scrip- 
ture is sovereign in all matters and questions of the 
ministry of the Word concerning Christian faith and 
life, in teaching and practice. Truly to reverence the 
authority of the Word of God, is the supreme obliga- 
tion of every Christian. All other authoritative writ- 
ings and statements of the Christian Church are de- 
pendent upon the authority of Holy Scripture, are 
subordinate to it, and are of derived authoritative 
value only to the extent in which they are consistent 
with the Word. Inferring from the Word of God the 
greatness of its Author, one is constrained to testify: 
"Great and marvellous are thy works, O Lord God, 
the Almighty; righteous and true are thy ways, thou 
King of the ages. Who shall not fear, O Lord, and 
glorify thy name? for thou only art holy; for all the 
nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy 
righteous acts have been made manifest."" 



Index of Scripture Verses. 



I Gen. 17:1. 

2 Ps. 89:34. 

3 Ex. 20 :2. 

4 1 Tim. 6:15. 

5 Eph. 1:21. 

6..... Col. 1:15-18. 

7 St. John 14:16. 

8 Dan. 4:35. 

9 Rev. 4:11. 

ID St. John 4:34. 

II St. John 7:17. 

12 Isa. 55:11. 

13 James 1:18. 

14 Isa. 51:16. 

15 Amos 3:8. 

16 St. Luke 1 :70. 

17 Acts 1 :8. 

18 Rev. 21:5. 

19 Ex. 20 :2, 22, 23. 

20. Isa. 44:6. 

I Isa. 42:8. 

2 Isa. 66:2. 

3 2 Tim. 3:15. 

4 Isa. 48:17. 

5 Deut. 4:1. 

6 Ps. 32:8. 

7 Prov. 13:13, 14- 

8 Ez. 20:19. 

9 St. John 8:32. 

10 1 Tim. 4:16. 

II I Tim. 2:4. 

12 Ps. 36:9. 

13 St. John 14:21. 



II 



CHAPTER. 

21 St. Matth. 28:18-20. 

22 Eph. 4 :30. 

23 Ex. 4:11, 12. 

24 2 Sam. 23:2. 

25 Ps. 68:18. 

26 Ex. 4:12. 

2^ Jer. 1 :9. 

28 Ez. 3:4. 

29 1 Cor. 14:21. 

30 St. Mark 16:17. 

31 Acts 3:21. 

32 2 Pet. 1 :20, 21. 

ZZ 2 Tim. 3:16. 

34 St. John 21:25. 

35 St. John 5:39. 

36 Acts 1 :8. 

y? St. John 5:39. 

38 St. John 15:27. 

39 St. John 14 :26. 

40 St. Luke 1 :2. 

CHAPTER. 

14 Prov. 8:10, II. 

15 St. Mark 4:33, 34. 

16 Is. 45:12. 

17 Ps. 19:1. 

18 Ps. 104:31. 

19 St. John 4 :24. 

20 St. John 17:3. 

21 Isa. 6:3. 

22 Rom. 5:10. 

23 St. John 1 :29. 

24 St. Matth. 26:28. 

25 St. John 11:25. 

26 Acts 10 :43. 



122 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 

27 St. John 3 :8. 40 St. John i :i2. 

28 Titus 3:7. ' 41 St. John 3:19. 

29 St. John 15 :S. 42 St. Matth. 7 :24. 

30 Prov. 21 : 1. 43 St. Matth. 28 :20. 

31 Ps. 33:10, II. 44 Gen. 18:17, 18. 

^^ ■^^- 5 :2. 42 isa. 42 :g. 

33 Isa. 41 :2i-23, 26. g j^^ g 

34 2 Tim. 2:19. A 

35 2 Sam. 7:23. ^7 Amos 37. 

36 Isa. 43:21. 48 Rev. 22:6. 

S7 Ez. 36 :22. 49 Isa. 46 19, 10. 

38 St. John 8:12. 50 Rev. i : 12, 13, 16. 

39 Mai. 4:2. SI I Peter 1:10, 11. 

III. CHAPTER. 

I Ps. 139:1-3. 25 St. John 5:39. 

2 Heb. 4:13. 26 St. John 14:6. 

3 1 John 3 :20. 27 St. John i :i4. 

4 St. Matth. 9 :4. 28 Col. 2 19. 

5 St. John 1 :47-49. 29 i John 5 :20. 

6 St. John 16:30. 30 Ps. 119:142. 

7 Isa. 11:2. 31 St. John 3:33. 

8 1 Cor. 2:10. 32 St. John 3:16. 

9 Deut. 32 '.4. 33 Ps. 93 '5- 

ID Ps. 89:14. 34 Ps. 119:151. 

II Ps. 100:5. 35 Acts 1:7. 

12 Rev. 15:3. 36 Ps. 111:6-8. 

13 1 John 5 :9, 10. 37 2 Peter i :i2, 16. 

14 St. John 7 :28. 38 Ps. 89 :49. 

15 1 John 5 :20. 39 2 Sam. 7 :28. 

16 Isa. 16 :5. 40 St. John 6 163. 

17 St. John 18 137. 41 Heb. 4 :i2. 

18 St. John 16:13. 42 St. John 17:3. 

19 1 John 5 :7. 43 Ps. 25 :5. 

20 Rom. 3:4. 44 Ps. 86:11. 

21 Heb. 6 : 18. 45 Isa. 40 :26. 

22 St. John 8 :32. 46 St. John 10 13. 

23 St. John 17:17. 47 Rev. 2:17. 

24 Ps. 43 :3, 4. 48 Isa. 5 :20. 



INDEX OF SCRIPTURE VERSES. 



123 



49 Ps. 19:9, 10. 

SO Isa. 51:4. 

SI 2 Tim. 3:16. 

52 Eph. I :ii. 

53 Isa. 14:27. 

S4 Isa. 28 129. 

55 Ex. 20:2. 

56 Dan. 9 124. 

57 2 Cor. 13:8. 

S8 Jer, 32:19. 

59 Heb. 6:17, 18. 

60 Eph. 3:3, 5. 

61 Eph. 3:10. 

62 1 Cor. 2:13. 

63 St. John 5:39. 

64 Joshua 1 .7. 



65 Ps. 119:105. 

66 Isa. 8 :20. 

67 Isa. 34:16. 

68 St. Luke 24 :26, 27. 

69 St. Luke 24 :44, 45. 

70 Rom. 12:6. 

71 Rom. 16:25-27. 

72 Gal. I :g. 

73 Phil. 3:15, 16. 

74 2 Pet 3:1, 2. 

75 1 John 4:6. 

76 St. Jude 17. 

77 Rev. 22:7. 

78 2 Peter 3:15, 16. 

79 1 Cor. 2:12. 



IV. CHAPTER. 



I St. John 5:24. 

2 St. Luke 16:31. 

3 St. John 5:46,47- 

4 St. John 6:68. 

5 St. James i :2i. 

6 Isa. 52:7. 

7 .St. Mark 1:15. 

8 Rom. 5:8-10. 

9 St. John 20:19, 21. 

10 1 John 4:16. 

II St. John 3:11, 12. 

12 2 Cor. 2:17. 

13 Isa. 1 :2. 

14 Jer. 22:29. 

IS St. John 18:37. 

16 St. John 10 :35. 

17 St. Matth. 11:25-27. 

18 St. Matth. 16:17. 

19 1 Cor. 2:14. 

20 2 Cor. 10:5. 

21 Rom. 10:16, 17. 



22 1 Cor. 2:10. 

23 Heb. II :i. 

24 St. John 20 :29. 

25 Isa. 41:22. 

26 Jer. 23:18. 

27 Rom. 11:34-36. 

28 Isa. 45:15. 

29 1 Tim. 6:16. 

30 St. John I :i8. 

31 1 Cor. 2:9. 

32 St. John 16:13, 14. 

33 St. John 3:27, 34. 

34 Phil. 3:15, 16. 

35 2 Thess. 2:2, 3. 

36 1 Tim. 6:3, 4. 

37 St. John 4:41, 42. 

38 St. Matth. 28:20. 

39 St. John 17:20. 

40 2 Tim. 3:16. 

41 Heb. 2:1. 

42 2 Peter 3:2. 



124 



THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. 



43 1 Peter 1 124, 25. 

44 Isa. 45 :22. 

45 Isa. 52:10. 

46 1 Tim. 2 :4. 

47 St. Luke 16:17. 

48 St. Matth. 6:36. 

49 1 Cor. 10:11. 

50 Heb. 4:11. 



51 2 Heb. 12:1, 2. 

52 Ez. 38 :23. 

53 2 Peter 3:9. 

54 1 Thess. 5:24. 

55 Micah 7 :20. 

56 Heb. 10:35, 36. 

57 Rev. 22 :20. 



V. CHAPTER. 



I Deut. 30:14, 19. 

2 Ps. 25:10. 

3 Neh. 9:33, 34. 

4 Isa. 54:10. 

5 Isa. 45:23, 24. 

6 St. Matth. 5:17, 18. 

7 St. John 5:30. 

8 St. John 14:31- 

9 Acts 2:41. 

10 Acts 6 :7. 

II Ex. 8:19. 

12 Deut. 7:18, 19. 

13 St. John 6:14. 

14 St. John 14:10, II. 

15 St. Matth. 8:8. 

16 St. Mark 16 :20. 

17 Acts 14:3. 

18 Isa. 40:12-15. 

19 St. John 8:31. 

20 Acts 4:12. 

21 Heb. 2:11. 

22 St. Luke 8:18. 



23 Acts 3 \22. 

24 St. Matth. 17:5. 

25 Acts 3:18. 

2(i Dan. 9 :24. 

27 Col. 1:18. 

28 Heb. 13:8. 

29 St. Luke 8:21. 

30 St John 14:21. 

31 St. John 15:7. 

32 St. John 14 :24. 

ZZ St. John 15:10. 

34 Phil. 2:12, 13. 

35 St. Luke 8:15. 

Z(i St. Matth. 28 :20. 

Z'J St. John 17:20, 21. 

38 2 Tim. 2:15. 

39 St. Matth. 13:52. 

40 1 Tim. 6:12-14. 

41 1 Tim. 1:3, 4. 

42 Rom. II :36. 

43 St. Matth. 28:18. 

44 Rev. 15:3, 4. 



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